Container network functions: bringing NFV to the network edge

In order to cope with the increasing network utilization driven by new mobile clients, and to satisfy demand for new network services and performance guarantees, telecommunication service providers are exploiting virtualization over their network by implementing network services in virtual machines, decoupled from legacy hardware accelerated appliances. This effort, known as NFV, reduces OPEX and provides new business opportunities. At the same time, next generation mobile, enterprise, and IoT networks are introducing the concept of computing capabilities being pushed at the network edge, in close proximity of the users. However, the heavy footprint of today's NFV platforms prevents them from operating at the network edge. In this article, we identify the opportunities of virtualization at the network edge and present Glasgow Network Functions (GNF), a container-based NFV platform that runs and orchestrates lightweight container VNFs, saving core network utilization and providing lower latency. Finally, we demonstrate three useful examples of the platform: IoT DDoS remediation, on-demand troubleshooting for telco networks, and supporting roaming of network functions

Algorithms for advance bandwidth reservation in media production networks

Media production generally requires many geographically distributed actors (e.g., production houses, broadcasters, advertisers) to exchange huge amounts of raw video and audio data. Traditional distribution techniques, such as dedicated point-to-point optical links, are highly inefficient in terms of installation time and cost. To improve efficiency, shared media production networks that connect all involved actors over a large geographical area, are currently being deployed. The traffic in such networks is often predictable, as the timing and bandwidth requirements of data transfers are generally known hours or even days in advance. As such, the use of advance bandwidth reservation (AR) can greatly increase resource utilization and cost efficiency. In this paper, we propose an Integer Linear Programming formulation of the bandwidth scheduling problem, which takes into account the specific characteristics of media production networks, is presented. Two novel optimization algorithms based on this model are thoroughly evaluated and compared by means of in-depth simulation results

Can open-source projects (re-) shape the SDN/NFV-driven telecommunication market?

Telecom network operators face rapidly changing business needs. Due to their dependence on long product cycles they lack the ability to quickly respond to changing user demands. To spur innovation and stay competitive, network operators are investigating technological solutions with a proven track record in other application domains such as open source software projects. Open source software enables parties to learn, use, or contribute to technology from which they were previously excluded. OSS has reshaped many application areas including the landscape of operating systems and consumer software. The paradigmshift in telecommunication systems towards Software-Defined Networking introduces possibilities to benefit from open source projects. Implementing the control part of networks in software enables speedier adaption and innovation, and less dependencies on legacy protocols or algorithms hard-coded in the control part of network devices. The recently proposed concept of Network Function Virtualization pushes the softwarization of telecommunication functionalities even further down to the data plane. Within the NFV paradigm, functionality which was previously reserved for dedicated hardware implementations can now be implemented in software and deployed on generic Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) hardware. This paper provides an overview of existing open source initiatives for SDN/NFV-based network architectures, involving infrastructure to orchestration-related functionality. It situates them in a business process context and identifies the pros and cons for the market in general, as well as for individual actors

SDN/NFV-enabled satellite communications networks: opportunities, scenarios and challenges

In the context of next generation 5G networks, the satellite industry is clearly committed to revisit and revamp the role of satellite communications. As major drivers in the evolution of (terrestrial) fixed and mobile networks, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) technologies are also being positioned as central technology enablers towards improved and more flexible integration of satellite and terrestrial segments, providing satellite network further service innovation and business agility by advanced network resources management techniques. Through the analysis of scenarios and use cases, this paper provides a description of the benefits that SDN/NFV technologies can bring into satellite communications towards 5G. Three scenarios are presented and analysed to delineate different potential improvement areas pursued through the introduction of SDN/NFV technologies in the satellite ground segment domain. Within each scenario, a number of use cases are developed to gain further insight into specific capabilities and to identify the technical challenges stemming from them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Residential wireless interfaces virtualization: a feasibility study

This paper investigates the possibility of virtualizing and distributing the functionality that runs on top of residential wireless communications. Specifically, we propose, describe and test a solution that transports USB communications to remote locations, for scenarios in which the in-home wireless interfaces are consumed at the server side through this type of general-purpose and widely used interfaces. We frame this study in a general architecture by which Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) bring economies of scale, flexibility and programmability to residential Internet of Things (IoT) environments. As a result of our tests, we prove the feasibility of the remote presence of the IoT systems through the Universal Serial Bus (USB) tunnels, and we obtain approximate bandwidth measurements that serve as a hint on the type of services that can be offloaded to the cloud. For those functionalities that would need more bandwidth, we propose to embed a lightweight virtualization environment in home and to execute in it part of the virtualized components, something that is in line with the recent fog computing approaches

Contextually and identity aware 5G services

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University LondonThe fifth generation (5G) mobile networks aim to be ten times faster than the existing 4G connection, whilst providing low latency, and flexibility. Hence, various alterations are planned to the existing network infrastructure to be able to reach the 5G expected performance levels. The main technologies that were used, to ensure high performance, flexible network, and efficient resource allocation, are Software Defined Network and Network Function Virtualization. As these technologies are replacing the device-based architecture with, a service-based architecture. This thesis provides a design of location database interactive web interface and interactive mobile application. The implementation of real time video streaming location server, the streaming system's performance parameters demonstrated a high level of QoS (0.07ms jitter and 9.53ms delay). In regard to experimental examination, it measured the localisation coverage, accuracy measurements and a highly scalable security solution. The localisation coverage and accuracy measurements were achieved through the mmWave and VLC link transmitters. The proposed simulated annealing algorithm aimed at data optimisation for location measurements accuracy showed results of the average location error of x and y which showed significant improvement from x= 22.5 and y=21.6 to x=11.09 and y= 11.63. The proposed indoor location security solution showed significant results, as it provides a high scalability solution using the VNF. The solution showed that it was not 100% effective, as some of the fake discover packets still reached the DHCP server. This was due to the high load of traffic passing through the network. Nonetheless, 90% of the fake DHCP discover packets never reached the DHCP server because the scripts began blocking all fake discover packets after realising it was an attack. This conveys that the proposed system was able to run successfully without crashing or overloading the controller. Overall, the main challenges facing 5G have been addressed with their proposed solutions, which showed promising results. Conclusively showing that there is a lot more space for technological advancements to support the future of mobile networks.European Union’s Horizon 2020 research program - the Internet of Radio-Light (IoRL) project H2020-ICT 761992