Software-defined infrastructure (SDI) is an approach to managing and provisioning computing infrastructure, such as compute, storage, and networking, through software-based abstractions rather than direct interaction with physical hardware. It builds on virtualization and automation to enable infrastructure to be configured, deployed, and managed programmatically.1
In cloud-based and software-defined environments, infrastructure is increasingly abstracted from underlying hardware, with greater emphasis on non-functional requirements such as performance and scalability. Despite this abstraction, system behavior remains dependent on the capabilities and limitations of the underlying physical resources.2
Embedded Systems
In embedded systems, software-defined principles are often realized through firmware based control of hardware devices. A single hardware platform may support multiple functions depending on the software or firmware it runs.3
A common mechanism enabling this flexibility is over-the-air updates, which allow firmware to be updated remotely and wirelessly. This enables devices to be reconfigured, improved, or repurposed without requiring physical modification.4
See also
See also
- Infrastructure as code (IaC) which manages and provisions computer data center resources
- Software-defined networking (SDN), which separates network control logic from hardware devices
- Software-defined storage (SDS), which abstracts storage resources into software-managed pools
- Software-defined radio (SDR), where radio signal processing is implemented in software rather than hardware circuits
Terms such as software-defined equipment (SDE) or software-defined apparatus (SDA) are sometimes used to describe hardware systems whose functionality is largely determined by software, though these terms are less standardized.
References
References
- Kang, Joon-Myung; Lin, Thomas; Bannazadeh, Hadi; Leon-Garcia, Alberto (2014-11-26). "Software-Defined Infrastructure and the SAVI Testbed" (PDF). In Leung, Victor C. M.; Chen, Min; Wan, Jiafu; Zhang, Yan (eds.). Testbeds and Research Infrastructure: Development of Networks and Communities. TridentCom 2014. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering. Vol. 137. Cham: Springer Publishing. pp. 3–13. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-13326-3_1. ISBN 978-3-319-13326-3.
- Casale, Giuliano (2023-10-02). "Performance evaluation teaching in the age of cloud computing". ACM SIGMETRICS Performance Evaluation Review. 51 (2). Association for Computing Machinery: 45–49. doi:10.1145/3626570.3626588.
- Kachman, Ondrej; Balaz, Marcel; Malik, Peter (2019). "Universal framework for remote firmware updates of low‑power devices". Computer Communications. 139: 91–102. doi:10.1016/j.comcom.2019.03.014. ISSN 0140-3664.
- Brown, Benjamin Bucklin (2018). "Over‑the‑Air (OTA) Updates in Embedded Microcontroller Applications: Design Trade‑Offs and Lessons Learned" (PDF). Analog Dialogue. Analog Devices. Retrieved 2026-03-29.