HP VAN SDN Controller Administrator Guide v3

5.4 Controller packet forwarding operation
5.4.1 Hybrid mode disabled
Figure 75 Controller operation with hybrid mode disabled
When hybrid mode is disabled (set to "false"), the controller examines and directs the packets in
all flows for the given OpenFlow instance. The controller forwarding decisions for flows in a given
instance are based on the requirements of the installed applications. The forwarding decision is
communicated to controlled switches through OpenFlow. In instances where the controller has not
provided the switch with a rule for how to forward a packet type, the switch sends the packet to
the controller and waits for the controller to provide forwarding instructions.
Hybrid mode is commonly disabled in networks that are either used for experimental OpenFlow
work (such as developing a controller application) or for networks that are completely new and
designed to be fully controlled by OpenFlow.
80 Hybrid mode for controlling packet-forwarding