A Review on Software‐Defined Networking for Internet of Things Inclusive of Distributed Computing, Blockchain, and Mobile Network Technology: Basics, Trends, Challenges, and Future Research Potentials

Abstract

Internet of things (IoT) and software‐defined networking (SDN) are two relatively recent developments in the field of communication technology that have emerged in response to the growing demand for more efficient, flexible, and dynamic network architectures. As both of these concepts are new, they have received increasing attention from academic or industrial sources to emphasize their potential for integration. This study is aimed at reviewing the literature on SDN for IoT (SDN‐IoT) published from 2014 to 2022 and presenting insights and directions for future research, with a particular focus on cloud, fog, and edge computing. The study collects data from Science Direct, IEEE Explore, and Google Scholar and objectively selects 126 papers and conducts metadata analysis. The study articulates the challenges of managing and orchestrating IoT systems and how SDN can be used to address these challenges by enabling dynamic and flexible network configurations. It delineates not only the function of blockchain (BC) technology in securing and managing IoT networks but also how SDN can be utilized to incorporate BC‐based solutions. Additionally, the potential of SDN for mobile networks is explored, which are increasingly being used to support IoT devices. Finally, this study outlines the issues, challenges, and potential future research directions that may present opportunities for the researchers working in this field, underscoring the demand for more in‐depth investigation and advancement.