On the Placement of Management and Control Functionality in Software Defined Networks

In order to support reactive and adaptive operations, Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-based management and control frameworks call for decentralized solutions. A key challenge to consider when deploying such solutions is to decide on the degree of distribution of the management and control functionality. In this paper, we develop an approach to determine the allocation of management and control entities by designing two algorithms to compute their placement. The algorithms rely on a set of input parameters which can be tuned to take into account the requirements of both the network infrastructure and the management applications to execute in the network. We evaluate the influence of these parameters on the configuration of the resulting management and control planes based on real network topologies and provide guidelines regarding the settings of the proposed algorithms

Enabling virtual radio functions on software defined radio for future wireless networks

Today's wired networks have become highly flexible, thanks to the fact that an increasing number of functionalities are realized by software rather than dedicated hardware. This trend is still in its early stages for wireless networks, but it has the potential to improve the network's flexibility and resource utilization regarding both the abundant computational resources and the scarce radio spectrum resources. In this work we provide an overview of the enabling technologies for network reconfiguration, such as Network Function Virtualization, Software Defined Networking, and Software Defined Radio. We review frequently used terminology such as softwarization, virtualization, and orchestration, and how these concepts apply to wireless networks. We introduce the concept of Virtual Radio Function, and illustrate how softwarized/virtualized radio functions can be placed and initialized at runtime, allowing radio access technologies and spectrum allocation schemes to be formed dynamically. Finally we focus on embedded Software-Defined Radio as an end device, and illustrate how to realize the placement, initialization and configuration of virtual radio functions on such kind of devices

Heuristic resource allocation algorithm for controller placement in multi-control 5G based on SDN/NFV architecture

The integration of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is considered to be an efficient solution that enables the forecasting of highly scalable, optimal performance of 5G networks by providing an effective means of network functionality. The distributed multi-controller architecture approach is an emerging strategy that primarily aims to support network functions performed through the application of a control plane, to provide versatile network traffic management. However, the management of resource allocations across multiple data centers is an important issue that still affects 5G core networks. Using such a strategy in 5G core networks requires the controllers to be correctly located, in order to improve network reliability and cost-effectiveness. Thus, to address the controller placement problem (CPP) in a distributed 5G network, we proposed an efficient, heuristic multi-objective optimization approach, using dynamic capacitated controller placement problem (DCCPP). It is based on the K-center problem, to solve the capacitated controller placement problem (CCPP), which acts as a resource location problem, in which the location and number of controllers can be allocated to maximize resources. A Greedy Randomized Search (GRS) algorithm was used to solve the dynamic assignment of nodes to controllers to achieve load balancing. The design of the heuristic method provides proper load balancing, efficient cost management, and network resource management, as compared to the basic CCPP model. The results indicate that the allocation and the optimum number of controllers under an effective decentralized policy could achieve a higher degree of efficiency through resource assignment in such a densified network

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

SDN Access Control for the Masses

The evolution of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) has so far been predominantly geared towards defining and refining the abstractions on the forwarding and control planes. However, despite a maturing south-bound interface and a range of proposed network operating systems, the network management application layer is yet to be specified and standardized. It has currently poorly defined access control mechanisms that could be exposed to network applications. Available mechanisms allow only rudimentary control and lack procedures to partition resource access across multiple dimensions. We address this by extending the SDN north-bound interface to provide control over shared resources to key stakeholders of network infrastructure: network providers, operators and application developers. We introduce a taxonomy of SDN access models, describe a comprehensive design for SDN access control and implement the proposed solution as an extension of the ONOS network controller intent framework

A Centralized SDN Architecture for the 5G Cellular Network

In order to meet the increasing demands of high data rate and low latency cellular broadband applications, plans are underway to roll out the Fifth Generation (5G) cellular wireless system by the year 2020. This paper proposes a novel method for adapting the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)'s 5G architecture to the principles of Software Defined Networking (SDN). We propose to have centralized network functions in the 5G network core to control the network, end-to-end. This is achieved by relocating the control functionality present in the 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) to the network core, resulting in the conversion of the base station known as the gNB into a pure data plane node. This brings about a significant reduction in signaling costs between the RAN and the core network. It also results in improved system performance. The merits of our proposal have been illustrated by evaluating the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the 5G network, such as network attach (registration) time and handover time. We have also demonstrated improvements in attach time and system throughput due to the use of centralized algorithms for mobility management with the help of ns-3 simulations