A Quantum Key Distribution Network Routing Performance Based on Software-Defined Network

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a network security technology that generates encryption keys in real time and randomly during information transmission. This research implements a QKD network based on a software-defined network (SDN) by taking advantage of its advantages, such as saving resources to search for alternative routes and monitoring links to determine whether the conditions in each router network meet the needs or not. Path selection is made using metrics, such as the hop count metric using the routing information protocol (RIP) and the cost using open shortest path first (OSPF). Based on the results of routing performance testing on the QKD network based on SDN, tested ten times to get an average value, OSPF routing is faster at finding alternative routes than RIP routing. The test results for RIP routing throughput of 9.22 ms, delay of 0.76 ms, packet loss of 0.0044%, and convergence time of 10.64 ms. The results for OSPF routing throughput of 9.32 ms, delay of 0.75 ms, packet loss of 0.0039%, and convergence time of 10.51 ms.