A low latency service function chain with SR-I/OV in software defined networks

A network flow is required to be processed by multiple network functions such as PGW and SGW in mobile networks as a service function chain (SFC). Compared to hardware-based network functions, virtualized network functions are more flexible for deployment. Software defined network (SDN) provides a centralized network architecture to manage network resources and route the network flow among network functions in sequence and virtual machines are leveraged to deploy the network functions as network function virtualization (NFV). However, currently the performance of NFV suffers from I/O latency because packet processing causes lots of interrupts that decreases CPU utilization. To address the I/O latency issue, SR-I/OV network card is designed to replace OpenvSwitch in host machines to reduce the system interrupts. However, SR-I/OV is not compatible with existing SDN system, which is an important component in future 5G networks. Therefore, we propose an integrated architecture called the low latency service function chain from a wider perspective in system design to overcome main defects described above. We modify appropriate components in SR-I/OV driver and OpenvSwitch to dramatically reduce packet processing latency in SFC composed by several VNFs. Moreover, our design is compatible with SDN environment and benefited by central control.

     

The intelligent multi‐domain service function chain deployment: Architecture,challenges and solutions

Network function virtualization (NFV) technology achieves flexible service deployment by replacing the middleboxes with virtual network functions (VNFs). In NFV, a set of VNFs are chained in a given order, called service function chain (SFC), and accordingly, data flow is steered to traverse all the VNFs in order to offer a service. With a large number of network devices and end users being connected into Internet, there is a growing demand for large‐scale multi‐domain networks to dynamically deploy the SFC across multiple network domains, in order to support efficient service provisioning. To this end, in this paper, we first investigate the state of the art of multi‐domain SFC deployment, and then propose an intelligent multi‐domain SFC deployment (IMSD) architecture by leveraging software‐defined networking (SDN), NFV, and deep learning technologies. Furthermore, we discuss the potential challenges to realize the IMSD and provide some promising solutions.     

Automatic data aggregation for recursively modeled NFV services

Network function virtualization (NFV) allows to model network services as graphs interconnecting virtual network functions (VNFs), which may include nested VNFs, modeled as subgraphs of VNFs or end points. To query the performance data of network services modeled as abstract and high‐level graphs is challenging because of the recursivity of the NFV architecture and the elasticity and dynamicity provided by the NFV infrastructure. We propose to use Datalog, a declarative logic programming language, to build a framework that supports efficient data aggregation for performance metrics of recursively modeled network services. We present our recursive query language for automatic and flexible decomposition and aggregation of NFV performance metrics and describe example use cases for both compute and network metrics. We also describe the design and implementation of a proof‐of‐concept query engine using the language. Our performance evaluation shows that the total query latency is dominated by retrieval times of performance metrics from infrastructure databases, and the time for execution and automatic decomposition of high‐level queries by the query engine itself increases linearly with the size of the service graph up to 1000 nodes. Hence, our evaluations show that the query engine scales well, bounded mainly by the limited execution capabilities of our test environment. Furthermore, it can handle multiple concurrent queries up to the concurrency limits of the backend database in use. The proposed query language and engine are thus effective in recursively retrieving performance metrics of NFV environments supporting large‐scale service graphs and large numbers of query requests.     

基于SDN/NFV的核心网演进关键技术研究

在NFV和SDN的基础上研究核心网架构的演进及应用领域;通过将NFV和SDN技术引入核心网,在核心网虚拟化,分组域网关控制转发分离及基于Service Chaining的即插即用的增值业务及复杂流处理平台进行研究,建议了基于SDN/NFV的核心网长期演进架构。     

P4toNFV: Offloading from P4 switches to NFV in programmable data planes

P4 combines the benefits of hardware-based networking with the adaptability of software-based network operations. However, when faced with intricate network functions, P4 switches reveal constraints in memory and processing primitives. To address these, we advocate offloading traffic demanding intricate processing from the programmable data plane to network function virtualization (NFV). By leveraging this approach, P4 switches handle the core data plane, ensuring maximum performance, whereas virtualized network functions (VNF) cater to the intricate processing. Central to our research is the optimization of this offloading process, specifically considering delay constraints. We developed an analytical model that examines a P4 switch overseen by an SDN controller, integrating an offloading capability to NFV. The principal objective was to determine an offloading rate that minimizes packet processing delay. To this end, we employed a Bounded method, an advancement from Brent's method, to determine this optimal rate. The findings indicate that offloading approximately 66% of packets to the VNF achieves the lowest total delay, registering at 0.1505 $$s. This strategy of optimal offloading can notably reduce the system's average delay as the demand for network functions increases. The optimization technique we adopted exhibited rapid convergence in our experiments, reflecting the method's efficacy. Furthermore, a rigorous parametric sensitivity analysis spanning no offloading, full offloading, and optimal offloading strategies underscores that optimal offloading to NFV consistently augments system performance, particularly in terms of delay reduction. Conclusively, our study furnishes valuable insights into offloading strategies, augmenting the narrative on resource allocation in both PNFs and VNFs.     

Intent‐based service management for heterogeneous software‐defined infrastructure domains

One of the main challenges in delivering end‐to‐end service chains across multiple software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) domains is to achieve unified management and orchestration functions. A very critical aspect is the definition of an open, vendor‐agnostic, and interoperable northbound interface (NBI) that should be as abstract as possible and decoupled from domain‐specific data and control plane technologies. In this paper, we propose a reference architecture and an intent‐based NBI for end‐to‐end service management across multiple technological domains. The general approach is tested in a heterogeneous OpenFlow/Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) SDN test bed, where the proposed solution is applied to a rather complex service provisioning scenario spanning three different technological domains: an IoT infrastructure deployment, a cloud‐based data collection, processing, and publishing platform, and a transport domain over a geographic network interconnecting the IoT domain and the data center hosting the cloud services.     

Towards SDN/NFV-enabled satellite networks

The telecom community is during the last years witnessing a paradigm shift towards the virtualisation/ “softwarisation” of the network infrastructure, mostly driven by the concepts of software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualisation (NFV). At the same time, satellite telecommunication technologies, although rapidly advancing in various fields, have not so far adequately followed this trend. The paper investigates the applicability of SDN and NFV technologies to satcom platforms and determines the benefits and the challenges associated with the integration of satellite infrastructures into future software-based networks. To that end, it identifies specific use cases which clearly benefit from the softwarisation of the satcom network and proposes a functional architecture for federated satellite-terrestrial software-based networks. The architecture is implemented in a lab environment which is used to validate some of the proposed use cases. Furthermore, a techno-economic analysis is conducted, which presents clear economic benefits via the introduction of SDN and NFV in the satcom ecosystem.     

Software‐defined networking approach for enhanced evolved packet core network

The evolved packet core (EPC) network is the mobile network standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and represents the recent evolution of mobile networks providing high‐speed data rates and on‐demand connectivity services. Software‐defined networking (SDN) is recently gaining momentum in network research as a new generation networking technique. An SDN‐based EPC is expected to introduce gains to the EPC control plane architecture in terms of simplified, and perhaps even software‐based, vendor independent infrastructure nodes. In this paper, we propose a novel SDN‐based EPC architecture along with the protocol‐level detailed implementation and provide a mechanism for identifying information fields exchanged between SDN‐EPC entities that maintains correct functionality with minimal impact on the conventional design. Furthermore, we present the first comprehensive network performance evaluation for the SDN‐based EPC versus the conventional EPC and provide a comparative analysis of 2 networks performances identifying potential bottlenecks and performance issues. The evaluation focuses on 2 network control operations, namely, the S1‐handover and registration operations, taking into account several factors, and assessing performance metrics such as end‐to‐end delay (E2ED) for completion of the respective control operation, and EPC nodes utilization figures.     

SDN/NFV‐based handover management approach for ultradense 5G mobile networks

With the great increase of connected devices and new types of applications, mobile networks are witnessing exponential growth of traffic volume. To meet emerging requirements, it is widely agreed that the fifth‐generation mobile network will be ultradense and heterogeneous. However, the deployment of a high number of small cells in such networks poses challenges for the mobility management, including frequent, undesired, and ping‐pong handovers, not to mention issues related to increased delay and failure of the handover process. The adoption of software‐defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies into 5G networks offers a new way to address the above‐mentioned challenges. These technologies offer tools and mechanisms to make networks flexible, programmable, and more manageable. The SDN has global network control ability so that various functions such as the handover control can be implemented in the SDN architecture to manage the handover efficiently. In this article, we propose a Software‐Defined Handover (SDHO) solution to optimize the handover in future 5G networks. In particular, we design a Software‐Defined Handover Management Engine (SDHME) to handle the handover control mechanism in 5G ultradense networks. The SDHME is defined in the application plane of the SDN architecture, executed by the control plane to orchestrate the data plane. Simulation results demonstrate that, compared with the conventional LTE handover strategy, the proposed approach significantly reduces the handover failure ratio and handover delay.     

Orchestration mechanism for VNF hardware acceleration resources in SDN/NFV architecture

The hardware acceleration mechanism for VNF (virtual network function) is recently a hot research topic in SDN/NFV architecture because of the low processing performance of VNF.Once hardware acceleration resources have been plugged into the network,how to optimally mange and orchestrate these resources under service requirements remains a question to be solved.Firstly,a unified management architecture based on separated control for hardware acceleration resources was proposed.Then,traditional network topology together with hardware acceleration resources were modeled into a unified network model and then the hardware acceleration resource orchestration problem was transferred into a multi-objective linear programming problem.Finally,a hardware-accelerator-card-prior’ heuristic algorithm was designed.Experimental results show that compared with existing methods,the proposed orchestration mechanism can efficiently manage hardware acceleration resources and reduce the processing latency by 30%.     

面向软件定义核心网的OpenFlow分组转发优先制排队模型研究

软件定义网络（Software-Defined Networking,SDN）作为一种数据转发与控制逻辑相解耦、并开放底层编程接口的创新网络架构,为降低核心网的部署运营成本、提升应用业务性能提供了全新的解决思路.然而,在SDN架构下,逻辑上集中的控制平面容易出现性能瓶颈,进而加大分组转发时延,因此有必要理解其分组转发性能特性.为此,本文首先介绍了软件定义核心网的典型部署场景,分析了控制平面的Packet-in消息到达过程和数据平面的分组到达过程,进而应用M/M/n/m和M/M/1/m排队模型分别刻画控制器集群的Packet-in消息处理过程和OpenFlow交换机的分组处理过程.在此基础上,建立OpenFlow分组转发优先制排队模型,进而推导出不同优先级的分组转发时延及其累积分布函数CDF.最后,借助控制器性能测量工具OFsuite_Performance进行实验评估,结果表明：与现有模型相比,本文所提的M/M/n/m模型更能准确估计控制器集群的实际性能.同时,采用数值分析的方法对比了多种情况下不同优先级的分组转发时延及CDF曲线,为软件定义核心网的实际应用部署提供有效参考.     

一种5G网络切片的编排算法

网络切片是基于SDN/NFV的5G网络架构实现按需组网的一种重要技术.通过分析5G主要场景,提出了SDN/NFV架构下一种基于GA-PSO优化的网络切片编排算法.该算法利用粒子群算法能够快速收敛于全局最优解的特性,设计网络切片性能的评价函数.并且利用遗传算法快速随机搜索的能力,实现对网络切片的更新和优化,利用粒子群追逐局部最优解与全局最优解得到最优网络切片.仿真实验结果表明,该算法能够实现对多业务场景网络切片的个性化创建,充分发挥SDN的集中控制方式的优点,在降低网络能耗的同时,提高网络资源利用率.     

未来5G网络切片技术关键问题分析

5G是一个广带化、泛在化、智能化、融合化、绿色节能的网络.将满足人们超高流量密度、超高连接数密度、超高移动性的需求.从核心网新技术的引入角度看,未来5G核心网关键技术将以NFV及SDN为实现基础.为实现未来极富多样化的用户及网络性能指标,文章对未来业界公认的5G关键技术网络切片关键问题进行了研究.在对网络切片概念、特征、未来功能要求等方面分析的基础上,探讨了5G基于NFV及SDN技术的网络切片网络架构及性能.     

一种支持节点分割的vEPC虚拟网络功能部署模型

软件定义网络(SDN)和网络功能虚拟化(NFV)促进了网络的创新,NFV实现了虚拟网络功能(VNF)的逻辑集中部署。针对vEPC(virtualized Evolved Packed Core)网络中VNF的池组化部署问题,该文提出一种支持节点分割的VNF部署模型,该模型基于虚拟请求业务流量的感知,利用节点分割算法动态调整VNF与底层网络资源切片的映射关系,实现VNF的跨域组池。与传统的多功能链联合映射算法相比,该方法能够实现节点资源细粒度化管理和统筹调度,优化网络视图,减少资源碎片。在SNDlib提供的网络拓扑实例下仿真证明,该模型可以降低虚拟网络的资源开销,并提高虚拟网络的请求接收率。     

基于SDN/NFV的未来网络实验平台

依据SDN/NFV集中管控、动态、灵活、高效、可编排等特点,提出了基于SDN/NFV技术的未来网络实验平台的构建方案.该平台主要采用OpenStack和OpenDaylight的开源架构,同时研发设计SDN跨域虚拟网络通信、虚拟网元管理以及网络服务编排三大关键技术,实现了底层异构资源的实时动态管理与开放共享.同时,根据实验用户对网络资源的需求,灵活按需编排各种网络资源与SFC服务,为用户提供端到端的网络实验验证服务.     

SDN/NFV——机遇和挑战

SDN/NFV是电信业受云计算、虚拟化技术的深化发展趋势影响,在产业内进行网络IT化的尝试。本文分析了SDN/NFV对于电信领域的商业模式、技术趋势的影响,以及对于运营商、不同层面供应商的影响,并对其带来的机遇和挑战进行了分析和研究。     

SEAL2: An SDN‐enabled all‐Layer2 packet forwarding network architecture for multitenant datacenter networks

This paper presents the design and development of a new network virtualization scheme to support multitenant datacenter networking (MT‐DCN) based on software‐defined networking (SDN) technologies. Effective multitenancy supports are essential and challenging for datacenter networking designs. In this study, we propose a new network virtualization architecture framework for efficient packet forwarding in MT‐DCN. Traditionally, an internet host uses IP addresses for both host identification and location information, which causes mobile IP problems whenever the host is moved from one IP subnet to another. Unfortunately, virtual machine (VM) mobility is inevitable for cloud computing in datacenters for reasons such as server consolidation and network traffic flow optimization. To solve the problems, we decouple VM identification and location information with two independent values neither by IP addresses. We redefine the semantics of Ethernet MAC address to embed tenant ID information to the MAC address field without violating its original functionality. We also replace traditional Layer2/Layer3 two‐stage routing schemes (MAC/IP) with an all‐Layer2 packet forwarding mechanism that combines MAC addresses (for VM identification and forwarding in local server groups under an edge switch gateway) and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) labels (for packet transportation between edge switch gateways across the core label switching network connecting all the edge gateways). To accommodate conventional IP packet architecture in a multitenant environment, SDN (OpenFlow) technology is used to handle all this complex network traffics. We verified the design concepts by a simple system prototype in which all the major system components were implemented. Based on the prototype system, we evaluated packet forwarding efficiency under the proposed network architecture and compared it with conventional IP subnet routing approaches. We also evaluated the incurred packet processing overhead caused by each of the packet routing components.     

IMS核心网网络功能虚拟化方案研究

网络功能虚拟化将传统网络设备的软件功能和硬件功能解耦合,从而降低网络的投资和运营成本,提高新业务的部署效率。SDN为网络功能虚拟化的承载网提供了解决方案,确保网络功能虚拟化的实现。主要对IMS核心网网络功能虚拟化方案进行了论述,并基于SDN架构提出了IMS核心网虚拟化环境下的承载网组网方案。     

弹性协议可定制的网络数据平面结构及其映射算法

随着网络功能的不断扩展,新型网络协议的不断涌现,这些协议中的数据包具有新的格式定义,需要网络设备能够支持相应的解析和查找。软件定义网络(Software Defined Networking, SDN)基于流表的转发设计使得网络的创新变得简单,但是仍然难以支持任意协议的可编程解析和处理。该文联合考虑数据包的解析和查找过程,提出一种支持协议弹性定制的数据包查找硬件结构,通过比特粒度的解析和基于元操作的查找过程,使得任意协议能够在硬件结构上得到处理;此外,该文针对所提硬件结构提出一种基于多叉树的映射算法,将用户定制协议映射到硬件处理流水线和查找表中。通过实际的FPGA部署验证了所提结构能够支持多种协议的灵活定制,在硬件中的处理速度可以达到390 Gbps,与已有方案相比,其硬件资源利用率有明显降低。该结构对未来的软件定义网络的数据平面设计有重要的意义。     

Traffic pattern–based load‐balancing algorithm in software‐defined network using distributed controllers

Programmability and decoupling of the data plane and control plane in software‐defined networking (SDN) make the enterprise's network to focus on this new paradigm and to deploy their applications on it. Furthermore, supporting of distributed controllers in SDN opens the opportunities to address the limitations of centralized controller's architecture, which in turn improves the overall performance of the network. This study proposes a new load‐balancing algorithm to handle the load based on the traffic pattern specifically transmission control protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) traffic. Additionally, this study uses a distributed SDN controller's architecture to host the load balancer application. This study also employs a failover mechanism on the distributed architecture to achieve high‐availability environment and to ensure the redundancy and reliability of the network. The obtained results prove the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in terms of availability, which is increased by 11%, response time is reduced by 98%, transaction rate is also increased by 258%, throughput is increased by 206%, concurrency is reduced by 63%, and packet loss is reduced by 86% while comparing with random, round‐robin, and weighted round‐robin algorithms in addition to ease the integration and deployment in distributed controllers.