Software defined networking system, namely, optical communication and physical layer infrastructure equipment, products, and systems used in communication networks, namely, containerized equipment of racks, rows, and pods and their interconnects; interconnecting hardware for packet based routing and forwarding devices, namely, panels for patching, bulk cabling and harnesses, active cross connect devices; SDN (software defined networking) electrical and virtual machine-based controllers; switches, fiber optic switches, fiber optic switches with embedded intelligent connector and cable identifying technology, high density fiber optic switches, high density fiber optic switches with embedded intelligent connector and cable identifying technology, cross-connects being fiber optic cables, fiber optic cross-connects being fiber optic cables, fiber optic cross-connects being fiber optic cables with embedded intelligent connector and cable identifying technology, patch panels, namely, panels supporting networking ports, for housing interconnects of cables, fiber optic patch panels for housing interconnects of fiber optic cables, fiber optic patch panels for housing interconnects of fiber optic cables with embedded intelligent connector and cable identifying technology, computer software for monitoring, analyzing, operating, managing and maintaining communication networks, computer software for controlling route flows of data packets in communication networks, fiber optic cables and fiber optic cables with embedded intelligent cable identifying technology, fabrics of intelligent fiber optics and active optical switches, and computer software for remotely configuring and monitoring fabrics of intelligent fiber optics and active optical switches