The materials collected here document the experiences of those who have:

• deployed a new or updated an existing networking infrastructure including Software-Defined Networking (SDN) or associated software architectures such as Network Functions Virtualization (NFV).
• developed or updated networking devices, software, or procedures including support for SDN or associated software architectures such as NFV and Virtual/Virtualized Network Functions (VNF).

While not limited to the topic of deploying SDN, the article 8 Lessons from 20 Years of Hype Cycles still provides lessons that are relevant to the topic of deploying SDN technology.

Training and testing materials for those already using or planning to use SDN or associated software architectures are also provided.

No attempt has been made to extract lessons learned. Instead, original documents are referenced so that the lessons learned can be understood in context. A best practices document describes actions or practices that are known to produce good outcomes when followed..

Materials listed below come from a wide variety of sources, including conference presentations, research papers, industry studies, commercial provider publications, and other websites. Material was included because of its informational content, rather than to promote interest in SDN and associated software architectures or any particular company. The lessons learned material is organized as follows:

1. Networking customers (e.g., government, industry, educational or research organizations)
2. Service providers (e.g., Internet Service Providers, internet exchange operators, or wireless carriers)
3. Data center and cloud service operators, content providers (e.g., Internet Content Providers or Over-The-Top content providers)
4. Commercial providers (i.e., companies that manufacture, sell or support networking devices, functions, software or services)
5. Groups (open source communities, standards development organizations and trade groups)
6. Websites, Small-Medium Businesses [SMB], and individuals (researchers and developers)

and the training and testing materials are organized as follows:

7. Training Resources (presentations, papers, books, hands-on tutorials, software tools)
8. Testing Resources (measurement, methodology, test beds, testing, troubleshooting)

In alphabetical order within each category, each entry provides a source, date of creation and title with a link to the web address of the presentation, paper, video, website, or book.

1. Networking customers. 

2. Service providers.

3. Data center and cloud service, content providers.

4. Commercial providers.

5. Groups. 

Additional materials may be available. See the Points of Contact article for links to websites of several open source communities and standards development organizations.

6. Websites, SMB, and individuals.

7. Training Resources.

8. Testing Resources.

Additional materials may be available from commercial testing service and equipment providers and open source testing software developers on their respective websites. A partial list includes Accedian Networks, European Advanced Networking Test Center AG, Keysight Technologies, Paragon Active Assurance, Spirent Communications plc, UNH-IOL and Vivai Solutions, Inc.

Other listings of open source testing software developers are available in the Points of Contact article, here and in Table 1 of this paper.