Raphael Vicente Rosa

MD2-NFV: The case for multi-domain distributed network functions virtualization

Motivated by the vision of Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) spanning different administrative domains, this position paper makes the case for multi-domain, distributed NFV (MD2-NFV). To this end, we present MD2-NFV as a natural evolution of the NFV paradigm to deliver a distributed deployment of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) as a service. By means of three motivating use case scenarios, we discuss potential benefits and identify challenging features towards enabling advanced peering relationships between NFV domains.

VBaaS: VNF Benchmark-as-a-Service

When rolling out Network Function Virtualization (NFV) services, resource monitoring becomes a critical task subject to different cost-accuracy tradeoffs depending on whether continuous monitoring or more static infrastructure resource views are taken. In this context, we propose Virtualized Network Functions (VNF) Benchmark-as-a-Service (VBaaS) to enable not only run-time resource evaluation but also test-before-deploy opportunities for VNFs and NFV Infrastructures. We describe the motivation behind VBaaS and its main value proposition for a number of use cases around the orchestration tasks of VNF Forwarding Graphs We present the main components of VBaaS along their system interactions and interfaces, discussing the main benefits of adopting VBaaS and open research issues. Addressing the identified challenges and finalizing our proof of concept VBaaS are our main ongoing work activities.

Virtual data center networks embedding through Software Defined Networking

Software Defined Networking (SDN) has opened new ways to design, deploy, and operate networks with new abstractions and programmability at network control and data planes. In this paper, we approach SDN to embed virtual data center networks employing the Network-as-a-Service model. The proposed architecture is built upon abstractions to create a virtual topology using BGP configurations that allow an efficient mapping to a physical network of OpenFlow 1.3 switches. In the control plane, an algorithm is designed to perform efficient allocation of network resources to virtual paths based on the data plane state, such as allocated virtual networks and resource utilization metrics. Requirements such as bandwidth and resilience are used to define the tenants policies and construct the virtual topology graph mappings. The experimental evaluation on an emulated testbed shows that the proposed algorithm performs efficient load balancing and altogether yields better utilization of the physical resources under different tenant traffic patterns.

Blockchain-based Decentralized Applications meet Multi-Administrative Domain Networking

Envisioned 5G use cases arise challenges around the realization of inter-domain relationships beyond traditional Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering, e.g. end-to-end service deployments tailored to specific business needs (a.k.a. slices). Blockchain technologies bring consensus among decentralized non-trusting counterparts as a shared ledger, offering potential approaches for multi-administrative domain networking seeking agile, transparent end-to-end sliceable Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This demo showcases an experimental prototype based on best of breed open source components (e.g., Ethereum, OVS, Neo4j, Ryu/OpenFlowv1.3, ARIA/TOSCA) illustrating blockchain Decentralized Application (DApp) functionalities for life cycle management of multi-administrative domain network services.

Take Your VNF to the Gym: A Testing Framework for Automated NFV Performance Benchmarking

A VNF is a software entity to be run in diverse execution environments with variable configuration options and capabilities (e.g., hardware acceleration) impacting performance. NFV resource multiplexed infrastructures can impose hard-topredict relationships between VNF performance metrics (e.g., latency, frame loss), the underlying allocated resources (e.g., units of vCPU), and the overall system workload. Characterized by many-fold platform configuration and environment variables, the evolving scenario of NFV calls for adequate testing methodologies embracing modern continuous development and integration practices and leveraging open source tools and mindset. To this end, we introduce Gym as our proposed testing framework and methodology for automated NFV performance benchmarking. We present our design principles and the outcomes from a practical validation on a vIMS scenario. A discussion of the lessons learned and the overall NFV performance testing landscape are further contributions of this article.

Virtual Data Center Networks Embedded as a Service Using Software Defined Networks

Based on Software Defined Network paradigm we apply the Network-as-a-Service model to build a data center network architecture well-suited to the problem of virtual networks embedding. This task is performed by the algorithm proposed in this paper, which is based on aggregated information from a virtual routing plane using the BGP protocol and a physical network topology based on Open Flow 1.3 devices. The experimental evaluation shows that the proposed algorithm performs efficient load balancing on the data center network and altogether yields better utilization of the physical resources.