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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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