Balázs Peter Gerö

Flow level performance analysis of a multi-service system supporting elastic and adaptive services

We consider a multi-rate loss system where two types of non-peak allocated traffic flows receive service. Both elastic and adaptive flows are associated with a peak-and a minimum bandwidth requirement and they tolerate bandwidth compression while in service. The holding time of elastic flows depends on their received throughput, while the holding time of the adaptive flows is insensitive to that. Unfortunately, while this system is Markovian under quite non-restrictive assumptions (that are often used in the literature), it is not reversible. We propose a method whereby the approximation of this system by a reversible system is possible. We derive recursive formulas for determining the occupancy distribution and the mean number of flows in the system. By using a continuous approximation of the discrete state space, we also derive an explicit formula for the average throughputs that is independent of the size of the state space. The recursive formulas and the continuous approximation together provide a powerful tool for the performance analysis of this quite general system in the sense that they allow the calculation of the blocking probabilities and the mean throughputs in medium and large systems as well.

5GEx: realising a Europe-wide multi-domain framework for software-defined infrastructures

Market fragmentation has resulted in a multitude of network and cloud/data center operators, each focused on different countries, regions and technologies. This makes it difficult and costly to create infrastructure services spanning multiple domains, such as virtual connectivity or compute resources. In this article, we discuss the goals and work being done within the 5GEx 5G Exchange project in realising a Europe-wide multi-domain platform. This platform aims at enabling cross-domain orchestration of services over multiple administrations or over multi-domain single administrations in the context of emerging 5G networking. The 5GEx vision is based on introducing a unification via network function virtualisation/software-defined networking compatible multi-domain orchestration for networks, clouds and services. We describe the motivation and 5GEx vision, the adopted architecture and the next steps in terms of implementation and experimentation. Copyright

Hybrid-SDN for packet transport: The horizontal split

Network operators are seeking for solutions to make their networks innovation-ready, as they intend to adapt transport networks more easily to continuously changing requirements. The emerging SDN concept and its related technologies are discussed widely in the industry as a promising tool-set in order to provide increased programmability for transport. However, the SDN concept itself, when applied to packet networks, creates a significant gap between traditional networking practice and solely centrally controlled SDN network. This paper focuses on a Hybrid-SDN approach, which is able to narrow this gap via a more natural split of local and remote control functions. The described horizontal split keeps the impact on network design and operation less revolutionary and therefore such a Hybrid-SDN approach could provide a more realistic introduction of SDN in real transport network scenarios.

Upgrading the metro ethernet network

Large scale Metro Ethernet Networks are widely deployed using Provider Bridging (PB) technology. Scaling these networks is a challenging task for any network operator. Newer technologies such as Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) are available as choices to a carrier that is upgrading PB networks. In this paper we focus on technologies that are be ing deployed in Metro Ethernet Networks and discuss how to introduce them in a gradual way. We also define a method that allows in-service migration of VLAN services. Furthermore, we provide techniques that allow providers to reap the benefits that the new technologies offer from the beginning of their deployment without the need for a forklift network upgrade.

The orchestration in 5G exchange — A multi-provider NFV framework for 5G services

The goal of the 5G Exchange project is to enable cross-domain orchestration of services over multiple administrations. The system we build allows the end-to-end integration of heterogeneous resource and service elements of a multi-vendor technology environment from multiple operators by sharing their network and compute infrastructures via NFV orchestration. We will run an industry control 5G use-case, where one of the VNFs is offered by a 3rd party solution provider as a VNFaaS. We will show i) full automation for end-to-end network service orchestration over multi-provider NFV and VNFaaS offerings with latency and high availability constraints; ii) actor-role models and business interactions and iii) how — with a feedback loop to lifecycle management — the system can adapt to changes.

5G exchange for inter-domain resource sharing

Market segmentation and technological heterogeneity are major obstacles along the way towards the realization of fast service creation expected to be part the fifth generation network feature set. In this paper we present our vision of creating a 5G Exchange that remove these obstacles by enabling the orchestration of networking and service resources in an automated way across technological and administrative domains, We describe the challenges and our motivation, the proposed networking architecture framework, showing and its relation to current standardization efforts. We present the next steps in terms of implementation and experimentation, and propose a sandbox environment where partners may experiment with life-size multidomain network orchestration.