Optimization Model for Cross-Domain Network Slices in 5G Networks

Abstract

Network Slicing (NS) is a key enabler of the upcoming 5G system and beyond, leveraging on both Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN), NS will enable a flexible deployment of Network Functions (NFs) belonging to multiple Service Function Chains (SFC) over various administrative and technological domains. Our novel architecture addresses the complexities and heterogeneities of verticals targeted by 5G systems, whereby each slice consists of a set of SFCs, and each SFCs handling specified traffic within the slice. In this paper, we propose and evaluate a MILP optimization model to solve the complexities that arise from this new environment, our proposed model enables a cost-optimal deployment of network slices allowing a mobile network operator to efficiently allocate the underlying layer resources according to its users' requirements. We also design a greedy-based heuristic to investigate the possible trade-offs between execution runtime and network slice deployment. For each network slice, the proposed solution guarantees the required delay and the bandwidth, while efficiently handling the use of both the VNF nodes and the physical nodes, reducing the service provider Operating Expenditure (OPEX).

6G Architecture to Connect the Worlds

“…Also, such a concept will allow highest level of trustworthiness by implementing trusted execution environments (TEE). TEE will guarantee the integrity and confidentiality of both code and states; remote attestation will provide proof of trustworthiness to third-party stakeholders [21]. The unit of execution may vary from a stateless function to a micro-service and to a full service in a container or a virtual machine in the het-cloud environment.…”

“…As described in the previous sub-section, on the one hand, network functions and service function chains will be assigned dynamically based on the optimal balance between consumed and available resources. On the other hand, they will be placed based on, connectivity, security, latency and performance (HW acceleration) requirements and energy consumption targets through on-line multi-object optimization algorithms [21]. Therefore, traffic routing between service endpoints needs to be based on data flow characteristics that will disassociate transactions and sessions from application context (use case, location, application), used device, used network functions, storage and transport, enabling in-network caching and replication.…”

Telecommunications network design: Technology impacts and future directions

“…One benefit is that each slice can have widely varying characteristics and requirements. Assigning the various tasks comprising a service to the underlying (shared with other services) physical network gives rise to resource allocation problems (e.g., see [1, 118, 125, 130]). Note that 5G slicing is a future vision of network services that is currently under development/study in both academia and industry.…”

The intelligent multi‐domain service function chain deployment: Architecture, challenges and solutions

“…In their work, Karamichailidis et al 16 designed a multi‐domain SFC deployment solution by leveraging Open Source management and orchestration (MANO), OpenStack, and OpenDaylight. In their study, Addad et al 17 presented a multi‐domain SFC orchestration architecture to address the complexities and heterogeneities of physical servers. In their study, Guerzoni et al 18 proposed a multi‐domain SFC orchestration and management framework to achieve the coordination and automated management of cloud and networking resources, SFC deployment.…”

“…To address the optimization model, a heuristic multi‐domain SFC deployment algorithm was proposed. In their work, Addad et al 50 designed a greedy‐based heuristic algorithm for multi‐domain SFC deployment to achieve the tradeoffs between execution runtime and SFC deployment cost.…”