| Abstract: | Fault management of virtualized network environments using user‐driven network provisioning systems (NPSs) is crucial for guaranteeing seamless virtual network services irrespective of physical infrastructure impairment. The network service interface (NSI) of the Open Grid Forum reflects the need for a common standard management API for the reservation and provisioning of user‐driven virtual circuits (VCs) across global networks. NSI‐based NPSs (that is, network service agents) can be used to compose user‐driven VCs for mission‐critical applications in a dynamic multi‐domain. In this article, we first attempt to outline the design issues and challenges faced when attempting to provide mission‐critical applications using dynamic VCs with a protection that is both user‐driven and trustworthy in a dynamic multi‐domain environment, to motivate work in this area of research. We also survey representative works that address inter‐domain VC protection and qualitatively evaluate them and current NSI against the issues and challenges. |
