1 research outputs found
OpenFunction: Data Plane Abstraction for Software-Defined Middleboxes
The state-of-the-art OpenFlow technology only partially realized SDN vision
of abstraction and centralization for packet forwarding in switches.
OpenFlow/P4 falls short in implementing middlebox functionalities due to the
fundamental limitation in its match-action abstraction. In this paper, we
advocate the vision of Software-Defined Middleboxes (SDM) to realize
abstraction and centralization for middleboxes. We further propose
OpenFunction, an SDM reference architecture and a network function abstraction
layer. Our SDM architecture and OpenFunction abstraction are complementary to
existing SDN and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies. SDM
complements SDN as SDM realizes abstraction and centralization for middleboxes,
whereas SDN realizes those for switches. OpenFunction complements OpenFlow as
OpenFunction addresses network functions whereas OpenFlow addresses packet
forwarding. SDM also complements NFV in that SDM gives NFV the ability to use
heterogenous hardware platforms with various hardware acceleration
technologies.Comment: 15 page