SDbased

SDbased is a generic term used to describe software-defined approaches to data management and storage systems. It emphasizes decoupling software control from hardware, allowing centralized control, automation, and policy-driven provisioning across diverse infrastructure.

In SDbased architectures, a control plane manages resources and policies, while data planes handle actual input/output operations. The design relies on declarative configurations, open APIs, and modular components that can integrate with file, block, and object storage backends. This fosters interoperability and easier orchestration across on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments.

Common applications include cloud storage services, data centers, disaster recovery, and data-intensive AI/ML pipelines where consistent data access and rapid provisioning are critical. SDbased concepts are implemented by multiple vendors and open-source initiatives under different project names, often as extensions of software-defined storage or software-defined data centers.

History and usage: The term emerged during the broader software-defined movement beginning in the 2010s, paralleling software-defined networking and other programmable infrastructures. It is not a single standard but a collection of architectures and best practices with varying emphasis on performance, governance, and scalability.

Challenges include increased complexity, interoperability issues between vendors, security and compliance considerations, and the need for mature automation tooling and monitoring to realize the promised benefits.

See also: Software-defined storage, Software-defined networking, Data fabric, Policy-based automation.