BLOCKCHAIN-BASED SOLUTION TO SECURITY MULTI-CONTROLLERS IN SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORKS AGAINST DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACKS

Abstract

Multi-controller-based software-defined networks aid in enhancing network scalability, network availability and management ability. However, it still faces significant challenges, such as consistency between controllers, which can reduce performance and network operability against multiple attacks. Denial-of-service attacks significantly affect all the different layers of the network; hence, to address this challenge, we propose a solution using blockchain technology to ensure the security of multi-controllers against denial-of-service attacks. The paper utilizes the mininet tool and ONOS software to simulate multi-controllers for software-defined networks. Simultaneously, the paper adopts multichain to establish a private blockchain, which facilitates block creation, sending and the receiving blocks among controllers. Experimental results show that the application of a consensus mechanism on the blockchain helps detect denial-of-service attacks on controllers. From there, it helps network administrators to take timely actions to ensure the safety of multiple controllers in the network.