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TeraFlowSDN
What TeraFlowSDN is
TeraFlowSDN is an open-source, cloud-native software-defined networking controller for smart connectivity services and networks beyond 5G. Its microservices architecture supports end-to-end network orchestration and control. The project’s toolbox is intended for experiments in flow aggregation and management, equipment integration, AI- and ML-based security, and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy. TeraFlowSDN uses Apache License 2.0 and can integrate with ETSI Open Source MANO and ETSI OpenSlice. Documented southbound drivers include NetConf/OpenConfig, gNMI/OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN and ACTN, optical interfaces, and microwave. Northbound connectors cover the TFS API, bandwidth management, L2VPN and L3VPN services, topology, and network slices. The API provides gRPC methods for managing contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies. Release 7 highlights P4 device integration and optical-network automation, including telemetry, KPI management, analytics, and self-healing capabilities. Deployment documentation assumes Ubuntu Server and MicroK8s on a physical server or virtual machine with at least 4 cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one NIC. The NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver is marked experimental and contains proprietary extensions.
Who it suits
TeraFlowSDN is aimed at telecommunications operators, vendors, research institutions, and research initiatives working on smart networks and services.
What it does well
- Open-source under Apache License 2.0.
- Supports a broad set of documented network interfaces.
- Provides a northbound API with gRPC methods.
- Integrates with ETSI Open Source MANO and OpenSlice.
What to know first
- Deployment documentation assumes at least 4 cores and 8 GB RAM.
- The NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver is experimental.
- That optical driver contains proprietary extensions.
Limits
The deployment reference calls for at least 4 CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC; the guide recommends Ubuntu Server 20.04, 22.04, or 24.04 LTS and says other versions are untested. The NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver is experimental, and the ONF Transport API driver supports L0 optical link configuration without monitoring.
Getting started
- Open the TeraFlowSDN project website and documentation wiki
- Prepare a physical server or virtual machine with at least 4 cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC
- Use Ubuntu Server 20.04, 22.04, or 24.04 LTS and MicroK8s as described in the deployment guide
- Deploy TeraFlowSDN on MicroK8s
- For setup issues, contact the project team through Slack
Verdict
TeraFlowSDN offers a broad controller and API surface for smart-network work, including beyond-5G use cases. Its documented deployment requirements and experimental optical driver are important constraints to review.
Questions
How much does TeraFlowSDN cost?
It is listed as free and open source. The project identifies Apache License 2.0.
Where does TeraFlowSDN run?
The deployment guide describes on-premises deployment on a physical server or virtual machine using Ubuntu Server and MicroK8s.
What are the minimum deployment requirements?
The documentation lists at least 4 CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC.
What network interfaces does it support?
Documented drivers include NetConf/OpenConfig, gNMI/OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN and ACTN, optical interfaces, and microwave.
Can it integrate with other ETSI projects?
The project says it can integrate with ETSI Open Source MANO and ETSI OpenSlice.
What support is available for setup issues?
The project provides a documentation wiki and directs users with setup issues to contact the team through Slack.
Facts from TeraFlowSDN's own pages
- Agent interface
- The TFS MCP Server exposes selected controller operations to MCP clients, including agentic applications. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- API
- The TFS API exposes gRPC methods for managing contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Architecture
- Its microservices architecture supports end-to-end network orchestration and control. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The project presents TeraFlowSDN as a platform for telecommunications operators, vendors, research institutions, and research initiatives working on smart networks and services. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The deployment guide runs TeraFlowSDN on MicroK8s Kubernetes and documents physical or virtual machine deployment. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Deployment requirements
- The documentation assumes a physical server or virtual machine with at least 4 cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one NIC, running Ubuntu Server and MicroK8s. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Documented limitation
- The documentation marks the NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver as experimental and warns that it contains proprietary extensions. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The project says TeraFlowSDN can integrate with ETSI Open Source MANO and ETSI OpenSlice. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The site links TeraFlowSDN to the Apache License 2.0. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The documented ONF Transport API driver supports configuration of L0 optical links but does not support monitoring. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Minimum requirements
- The documentation lists a minimum deployment reference of 4 CPU cores, 8 GB RAM, 60 GB disk, and one 1 GbE NIC. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Network interfaces
- Documented southbound drivers include NETCONF/OpenConfig, gNMI/OpenConfig, ONF Transport API, P4, IETF L2VPN, and IETF ACTN. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Northbound API
- The TFS API exposes gRPC methods for managing contexts, topologies, devices, links, services, slices, connections, and policies. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Northbound interfaces
- Documented northbound connectors include the TFS API, ETSI bandwidth management, IETF L2VPN and L3VPN service delivery, network topology, and network slice service. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The deployment guide recommends Ubuntu Server 20.04, 22.04, or 24.04 LTS and says other versions are untested. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Optical automation
- Release 7 describes telemetry, KPI management, analytics, and self-healing capabilities for multi-granular optical nodes. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- TeraFlowSDN is an open-source, cloud-native SDN controller for smart connectivity services in networks beyond 5G. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Release 7
- Release 7 adds P4-device integration, optical network automation, and expanded northbound interface capabilities. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Security
- The site describes AI and ML-based security and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy as areas the project toolbox supports experimentation in. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026
- Security research
- The project describes experimentation with AI- and ML-based security and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users who encounter deployment issues to contact its SDG team through Slack, and lists [email protected] for help. · tfs.etsi.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- The project describes its toolbox as supporting experiments in flow aggregation and management, network equipment integration, AI and ML-based security, and forensic evidence for multi-tenancy. · tfs.etsi.org, 4 Oct 2026