For allowing a very flexible scheduling of data flows within an OpenFlow (OF) switch a method for operating an OpenFlow switch within a network includes using the OpenFlow switch to direct arriving data flows out of different ports of the OpenFlow switch. The method is characterized in that a scheduling mechanism for performing at least one scheduling task is assigned to the OpenFlow switch, wherein a metric will be used to assign weights to the arriving data flows and wherein the data flows will then be scheduled based on the assigned weights and based on a scheduling policy. Further, a corresponding OpenFlow switch and a corresponding network are described, preferably for carrying out the above mentioned method.