Kytos

Kytos is an open-source software-defined networking (SDN) controller framework designed to help researchers and operators build, test, and deploy programmable networks. It provides a modular, plugin-based architecture in which a core controller handles event routing, state management, and inter-component communication, while separate applications—implemented as plugins—contain the network control logic. The design emphasizes extensibility, testability, and a clear separation between control logic and the data plane.

The architecture centers on a lightweight core kernel that dispatches events and coordinates modules. A plugin system enables developers to add network applications without modifying the core. Southbound capabilities allow the controller to manage devices and virtual switches through pluggable adapters, while a northbound API (often RESTful) and accompanying user interface provide visibility, configuration, and management of running apps and network state.

kytos is maintained as a community-driven project with contributors from academia and industry. The project provides documentation, sample applications, and testing facilities, and it encourages experimentation with network experimentation tools and emulation environments. It supports a range of deployment options, from local installs for testing to production-like environments in labs.

Users install kytos via standard package managers or source, start the controller, install and enable apps, and connect network devices or emulated switches. Observability is provided through logs, event streams, and telemetry available through the API. See also software-defined networking, northbound APIs, and network emulation tools.