A network system configured to provide software defined networking is described. The network system comprises networking hardware such as network controllers, memory and other storage devices, and processors. The processors execute instructions to implement various program modules. A user interface permits a user to generate a request for generating an on-demand network connection. A flow module generates a network flow request, based on the received request for generating the on-demand network connection, and transmits the network flow request to a controller module. The controller module controls the network controllers to generate the on-demand network connection based on the generated network flow request.