Abstract

Software-Defined Networks (SDNs) offer unparalleled network control flexibility, yet efficient load balancing is still challenging in dynamic environments. DeepBalance is a novel framework presented in this paper, which deploys dynamic load balancing in SDNs using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL). Our solution employs a Deep Q-Network (DQN) agent, which learns the optimal routing policies by monitoring network states and being rewarded based on load distribution. DeepBalance continuously tracks link utilization and intelligently reshifts traffic to alleviate congestion and achieve maximal throughput. We employ a comprehensive simulation environment, which emulates actual network conditions and traffic patterns. Experimental results demonstrate that DeepBalance significantly outperforms traditional load balancing techniques, lowering link utilisation variance by 37% and total throughput by 28% over shortest-path routing. The infrastructure adapts with changing traffic patterns automatically without the necessity of manual reconfiguration, thus naturally circumventing hotspots by making forward-looking path decisions. Additionally, our visualizations illustrate how the DRL agent learns over time to distribute network load more evenly across alternative paths. DeepBalance is a strong candidate for autonomous network optimization in future SDN deployments.