Software-De_ned Networking (SDN) proposes a new network architecture inwhich the control plane and forwarding plane are decoupled. SDN can improvenetwork e_ciency and ease of management through the centralization of the controland policy decisions. However, SDN deployments are currently limited todata-center and experimental environments. This thesis surveys the deploymentof SDN from the perspective of a telecommunication network operator. We discussthe strategies which enable the operator to migrate to a network in whichboth SDN and legacy devices interoperate. As a synthesis of existing technologiesand protocols, we formulate an automated process for the bootstrapping of newlydeployed forwarding devices. Furthermore, we review solutions for programmingthe forwarding devices and for performing topology discovery. The functionalcorrectness of the proposed bootstrapping process is evaluated in an emulatedenvironment.