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The paradigm of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) requires the underlying networks to be able to route traffic through dynamically deployed nodes. The research presented here demonstrates the feasibility of using segment routing (SR), a modern incarnation of the source routing paradigm, and suitable SDN controllers to accomplish the traffic steering goal. Specifically, we focused on IPv4 SR and built a proof of concept SR-MPLS network using Juniper vQFX routers with custom VNFs. The Juniper NorthStar SDN controller was used to build SR-MPLS LSPs via the Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP). We validated the operation of our proof of concept in two scenarios: VNFs reinstantiation and service chain creation and support. In both cases traffic can be successfully steered through the functions, hence demonstrating for the first time the feasibility of adoption of the proposed technologies.

In this paper a relative quality measure is presented that is applicable to rank alternatives characterized by multiple attributes or performance measures. The quality measure proposed is based on the harmonic and arithmetic mean, and allows for a simple and quick analysis of the alternatives with respect to their attributes. An alternative ranked by this method and having the maximum relative quality of one can be considered as an extreme efficient unit according to the method of data envelopment analysis. The proposed method of the relative quality measure is compared with different multiple attribute decision making approaches that apply simple additive weighting, the MADM methods based on OWA operator, maximizing deviations, and information entropy, and the PROMETHEE II method.