Flexibility and dynamicity for open network-as-a-service: From VNF and architecture modeling to deployment

Abstract

This dissertation paper synthesizes our contributions in the network openness context to achieve a flexible and dynamic Network-as-a-Service (NaaS). Tackling several challenges, the research work we have conducted have led us to three main proposals. First, we elaborate a software design approach complemented with a functional decomposition approach for modeling Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) as (micro)services (as-a-Service model). Then, we define a global NaaS architectural framework for hosting, exposing and deploying VNFs and virtual networks as network slices. Finally, we develop models for on- demand deployment, dynamic orchestration, and automatic life- cycle management of VNFs and virtual network slices in NaaS.