Which term refers to a variant that combines traditional protocols and SDN strategies?

Which term refers to a variant that combines traditional protocols and SDN strategies?

• A. Open SDN
• B. SDN Overlay
• C. Hybrid SDN
• D. Management Plane

Answer: (C)

Hybrid SDN describes a network that blends traditional routing protocols with SDN control. In this approach, some devices still run conventional protocols like OSPF or BGP to determine paths, while other parts of the network leverage an SDN controller to program flow rules for centralized decision-making. This lets you gain the programmability and centralized control benefits of SDN without replacing every device all at once, making migrations smoother and preserving compatibility with existing gear.

This differs from approaches focused solely on SDN concepts (such as an open, standards-driven SDN environment) or overlays that create virtual networks on top of the physical network, which don’t specifically capture the idea of mixing traditional protocols with SDN control. The management plane term refers to how network management is done and isn’t about combining protocols with SDN strategies.