Virtual Network Embedding for telco-grade network protection and service availability

Abstract

The decoupling of software from hardware by means of virtualization presents us with a unique opportunity to perform on-the-fly network deployment and reconfiguration. Virtual Machines could be instantiated and virtual links can connect these machines to form end-to-end virtualized networks on top of a physical network infrastructure. Virtual Network Embedding (VNE) algorithms could be used to map such virtual network on a physical network infrastructure. However, present VNE algorithms do not consider overall network protection. This is critical for a Telecom operator that needs to realize 99.999% network availability. Moreover, VNE is an NP-hard problem. In this paper, we propose a heuristics VNE aimed at protecting Telecom operator sites. Our objective is to develop advance counter-measures in the form of telco-grade redundancy to avoid large scale network failures such as the one observed during the tsunami in Japan in 2011. In designing our VNE algorithm, we distinguish server nodes from switching nodes as a server function cannot be embedded on a switching node. We also choose not to employ path splitting which is difficult to implement in real network operations. Along with detail modeling of our proposal, we also evaluate our scheme which shows its efficiency in realizing operators' valuable infrastructure protection while maintaining lower resource consumption.