Makondo, NtshuxekoMathonsi, TEMnyandu, Wandile TKobo, Hlabishi IDu Plessis, DD2026-01-062026-01-062025-11979-8-4007-1427-6https://doi.org/10.1145/3759023.3759117http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14570The evolution of software-defined networking (SDN) has transitioned from centralized control plane architectures to distributed control plane models, enhancing scalability, reliability, and fault tolerance. While central controllers often face challenges in managing extensive networks, distributed control architectures provide superior performance and flexibility. Initially, homogeneous distributed architectures were prevalent; however, the demand for heterogeneous distributed control planes where controllers interact with diverse systems and components has increased, necessitating advanced coordination and interoperability. This paper compares two widely adopted open-source distributed controllers, the Open Network Operating System (ONOS) and OpenDaylight (ODL), focusing on their methodologies for distributed clustering. It further explores the roles of Atomix and Akka (now Apache Pekko) distributed frameworks in ONOS and ODL, respectively, discussing their impact on performance and scalability. Furthermore, the paper examines the data consistency models used by ONOS and ODL to manage network state and synchronization. Finally, it offers recommendations for enhancing the interoperability and performance of heterogeneous distributed control planes in large-scale and diverse network deployments.FulltextenSoftware-defined networkingSDNNetwork Operating SystemONOSOpenDaylightODLApache PekkoConference PresentationN/A