Computer networks have become a critical infrastructure. In fact, networks should not only meet strict requirements in terms of correctness, availability, and performance, but they should also be very flexible and support fast updates, e.g., due to policy changes, increasing traffic, or failures. This paper presents a structured survey of mechanism and protocols to update computer networks in a fast and consistent manner. In particular, we identify and discuss the different desirable consistency properties that should be provided throughout a network update, the algorithmic techniques which are needed to meet these consistency properties, and the implications on the speed and costs at which updates can be performed. We also explain the relationship between consistent network update problems and classic algorithmic optimization ones. While our survey is mainly motivated by the advent of Software-Defined Networks (SDNs) and their primary need for correct and efficient update techniques, the fundamental underlying problems are not new, and we provide a historical perspective of the subject as well.
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