FLATLANd: SDN-Based Flat Layer-2 Architecture-Enabling NFV and Metro-Access Convergence

Abstract

Flat layer-2 large-scale network (FLATLANd) is a novel design for a telecommunications architecture that is strictly flat and conducts traffic at layer 2 without the use of tunneling, VPNs, or labels. The architecture is inherently open access in that no one network or service provider dominates over the others, as is the case in traditional wholesale and retail models for broadband access networks. Many of the layers and stacked components have been removed when compared to a traditional telecommunications network. In this paper, we validate the functionality of the proposed architecture through the provisioning of basic and enhanced services.We compare the FLATLANd QoS framework against current practices. We present reduced protocol stacks, called TCPoE and UDPoE, which are possible using the layer-2 wide area addressing feature facilitated by FLATLANd. We conduct comparative simulations of classic and FLATLANd architectures using our custom-made NSIM network simulation package.