Generic Autonomic Network Architecture Research Articles

A Theoretical Discussion and Survey of Network Automation for IoT: Challenges and Opportunity

The introduction of the Internet of Things (IoT) and massive machine-type communications has implied an increase in network size and complexity. In particular, there is already a huge number of IoT devices in the market in various sectors, such as smart agriculture, smart city, smart home, smart transportation, etc. The IoT interconnectivity technologies are also increasing. Therefore, these are increasingly overwhelming the efforts of network administrators as they try to design, reconfigure and manage such networks. Relying on humans to manage such complex and dynamic networks is becoming unsustainable. Network automation promises to reduce the cost of administration and maintenance of network infrastructure, by offering networks the capability to manage themselves. Network automation is the ability of the network to manage itself. Various standardization organizations are taking the initiative in introducing network automation, such as European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). ETSI is leading the standardization activities for network automation. It has provided different versions of reference architecture called generic autonomic network architecture (GANA), which describes a four-level abstraction for network-management decision elements (DEs), protocol level, function level, node level, and network level. In this article, we review and survey the existing works before and after the introduction of software-defined networking (SDN) and network-function-virtualization (NFV). We relate the main trending paradigms being followed, such as SDN, NFV, machine learning (ML), microservices, multiagent system (MAS), containerization, and cloudification, as a pivotal enabler of full network automation. We also discuss the autonomic architectures proposed in the literature. Finally, we presented possible future research directions and challenges that need to be tackled to progress in achieving full network automation.

Enabling autonomicity in wireless mesh networks with the ETSI AFI GANA reference model

SummaryThe distributed nature of wireless mesh networks (WMNs) allows them to benefit from multiple autonomic functionalities. However, the existing landscape of self‐x solutions (eg, self‐configuration) is fragmented and the lack of a standardized framework through which interoperable autonomics can be developed has been hampering adoption and deployment of autonomics in real‐world service networks. There is a need for a standardized architectural framework that enables to comprehensively support and integrate interoperable components for autonomicity in WMNs. Such an architecture (autonomicity‐enabled wireless mesh architecture) is currently being standardized by the working group called Evolution of Management towards Autonomic Future Internet (AFI) in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute within the Network Technologies Technical Committee. The proposed autonomic wireless mesh architecture is an instantiation of the AFI GANA (Generic Autonomic Network Architecture) reference model, a standards‐based approach to autonomics. This paper complements and extends the early version of the architecture by further detailing the architectural principles and providing experimental and validation results. First, we provide a brief overview of the AFI GANA reference model and then show how each of its building blocks can be instantiated for WMNs. We evaluate the proposed architecture by implementing and testing the 4 basic self‐x functionalities defined by the GANA model. The provided guidelines can now help researchers and engineers build autonomicity‐enabled WMNs using a standardized framework that enables adoption and deployment of autonomics by industry, thereby enabling researchers and engineers to contribute to the further evolution of the standard in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

Convergence Aspects of Autonomic Cooperative Networks

The current efforts across industry and academia are to develop new paradigms that enable ubiquitous on-demand service provision. This aim may be achievable because of the envisaged deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as cooperative transmission. However, a real advancement is only attainable when autonomic system design principles are taken into account. Looking at the concept of the Relay Enhanced Cell, one may come across commonalities with Mobile Ad-hoc Networks. Especially in Local Area scenarios, Base Stations seem to resemble advanced Access Points, while fixed and movable Relay Nodes might be replaced by powerful mobile User Terminals. On top of it, Generic Autonomic Network Architecture would help accommodate the fact that network devices may expose autonomic cooperative behaviors, allowing them to play certain roles. Finally, such a network must interact with Operations Support System deployed by the network operator for uninterrupted, continued operation.