Configuration Of Network Services Research Articles

Runtime Adaptation Framework for Fulfilling Availability and Continuity Requirements of Network Services

The Network Function Virtualization (NFV) framework is an enabler for the automation of Network Service (NS) management. In the context of NFV, an NS is realized by interconnecting Virtual Network Functions (VNF) using Virtual Links (VL). Availability and continuity are among the important characteristics of an NS. These characteristics depend on the availability of the VNFs and VLs composing the NS, which are usually selected at NS design time. VNFs and VLs utilize the resources of the underlying infrastructure, and their availability (partially) depends on the availability of these resources. To design an NS to fulfill availability and continuity requirements, the availability required from the resources is constrained at design time. However, the characteristics of these resources may change at runtime due to the dynamicity of NFV infrastructure. Thus, impacting the availability of the VNFs and the VLs, which in turn may impact the availability and continuity of the NS. To fulfill these requirements at runtime despite the changes in the infrastructure, the NS should be adapted. In this paper, we propose a framework for the runtime adaptation of NSs that reacts to changes and adapts the NS configuration so that it can fulfill its availability and continuity requirements during the NS lifetime. We also propose a method to develop machine learning models that are used within the framework to determine the required adjustments at runtime. We implemented the proposed framework, the method for developing the machine learning models, a testbed, and NSs to assess the feasibility and validity of our approach through experiments.

Network Service Assurance and Telemetry optimisation using Heuristics

This paper identifies possible solution to reduce amount data retrieved for purpose of network monitoring, while retaining the quality of information. Legacy methods used for network service monitoring data using and data retrieved by use of synthetic tests are usually decoupled – describing different contexts. As a result, there is too many monitored operational parameters on monitored devices and consequently too much measurement data exported from network service probes. Novel approach is suggested to perform heuristic analysis of the network service configuration and decomposition of collected data at the network edge. Objective is that amount of collected data can be reduced while at the same time quality of the presented information can be improved by providing clear correlation between network service and telemetry data.

Toward a Real Deployment of Network Services Orchestration and Configuration Convergence Framework for 5G Network Slices

A seamless interworking between network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN) to orchestrate network services for the 5G systems is very fundamental for network slice creation. The orchestration of large scale network slices across multiple administrative as well as technological domains with heterogeneous resources and a distributed form of slice management can benefit from harnessing existing NFV orchestration (NFVO) solutions. In this regard, this article presents a network service orchestration and configuration convergence framework that is capable of providing a large scale network slicing solution for 5G network operators. Using this framework, 5G network operators can orchestrate and configure network slices directly from their infrastructure and that of credible registered slice providers who have resources for the orchestration of only a subset of the overall network slice. The framework is equipped with mechanisms that allow a distributed form of slice configuration and management.

The CDIOTC Teaching Method based on Practical Courses

In this paper, we first analyze the problems that are common in the teaching of traditional practical courses. For example, students' teamwork ability and responsibility cannot be improved, students are not interested in course learning, and they have no initiative of self-learning, the teaching effect is poor and so on. Secondly, the CDIOFC teaching method is proposed, which combines the educational concept of CDIO with the teaching mode of the flipped classroom, and redesigns the classroom teaching. Finally, the teaching method is applied to the network service configuration and management course. The implementation results show that the course teaching method effectively solves the problems existing in the teaching of the traditional practical courses. Herefore, the CDIOFC teaching method proposed in this paper is effective and worth promoting.

Integration of Multiple Data Sources for predicting the Engagement of Students in Practical Activities

This work presents the integration of an automatic assessment system for virtual/remote laboratories and the institutional Learning Management System (LMS), in order to analyze the students� progress and their collaborative learning in virtual/remote laboratories. As a result of this integration, it is feasible to extract useful information for the characterization of the students� learning process and detecting the students� engagement with the practical activities of our subjects. From this integration, a dashboard has been created to graphically present to lecturers the analyzed results. Thanks to this, faculty can use the analyzed information in order to guide the learning/teaching process of each student. As an example, a subject focused on the configuration of network services has been chosen to implement our proposal.

Constraint-based model for network service provisioning

As the network services deployed over the Internet become more complex, their configurations are more difficult to manage. The constraints that exist among the network service configuration parameters are an important source of complexity in the configuration, validation and fault management processes. Existing solutions do not provide adequate high-level models to capture and integrate various types of configuration constraints. It is therefore necessary to adopt a structured approach in order to solve this problem. Thus, in this paper, we propose a structured and integrated constraint-based model for network service configuration, validation and fault management.

Self-Configuration of Network Services with Biologically Inspired Learning and Adaptation

This paper proposes a self-organizing scheme based on ant metaheuristics to optimize the operation of multiple classes of managed elements on an Operations Support Systems (OSSs) for mobile pervasive communications. Ant metaheuristics are characterized by learning and adaptation capabilities against dynamic environment changes and uncertainties. As an important division of swarm agent intelligence, it distinguishes itself from centralized management schemes due to its features of robustness and scalability. We have successfully applied ant metaheuristics to the network service configuration process, which is simply redefined as: the managed elements represented as graphic nodes, and ants traverse by selecting nodes with the minimum cost constraints until the eligible network elements are located along near-optimal paths--the located elements are those needed for the configuration or activation of a particular product and service. Although the configuration process is non-transparent to end users, the negotiated SLAs between users and providers affect the overall process. This proposed self-organized learning and adaptation scheme using Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is evaluated by simulation in Java. A performance comparison is also made with a class of Genetic Algorithm known as PBIL. Finally, the simulation results show the scalability and robustness capability of autonomous ant-like agents able to adapt to dynamic networks.

Dynamic Policy-Based Network Management for a Secure Coalition Environment

This article reports the latest results of an R&D effort to develop a prototype implementation of a dynamic policy-based network management (PBNM) system that can be used to configure and manage a secure network for a coalition environment across an unsecured wide area network. The prototype, based on a distributed architecture, includes capabilities for policy creation and management, dynamic policy negotiation, and dynamic policy provisioning. The policy negotiation facilitates the rapid deployment of a coalition network while the dynamic policy provisioning automates the configuration and management of network services including firewalls, virtual private network connections, routing, quality of service (QoS), and domain name services. Such a PBNM system enhances an organization's ability to react to network incidents identified by a network situational awareness assessment. Although the focus of the current research is a military coalition environment, the system can be used in any distributed enterprise or collaborative environment

Reliability of Data Allocation on a Centralized Service Configuration with Distributed Servers

This paper presents a stochastic model to evaluate the reliability and availability of a network service configuration consisting of a centralized database server and two distributed database server sets for a local/metropolitan area network. The centralized server monitors and controls the distributed database servers, which can be remotely separated from each other and from the center by almost any distance depending on the means of information transmission media between the center and the distributed servers. Using exponential time to failure and time to repair distributions for each of the database servers, exact numerical solutions are obtained for the steady state service reliability and availability measures. The results are then compared to approximate steady state numerical solutions for the general Weibull distribution case under different initial conditions. Finally, the model is extended to the case of three distributed database server sets. The reliability and availability study of such configurations has many applications in widely used internet services, mission-critical business fault tolerant systems, and automated manufacturing and service industries. A decision tool for the computer center manager to assess an upgrade to a three distributed database system from a two database system is also presented.

Practical issues in the application of speech technology to network and customer service applications

This paper proposes a simple model to characterise the different stages of short telephone transactions. It also discusses the impact of the context of the caller when entering an automated service. Three different styles of service were then identified, namely, large vocabulary information gathering, spoken language command and natural language task identification for helpdesks. By considering human dialogue equivalents, the requirements for each style are considered. Consequently, it is shown that each style pushes different technological limits. Three case studies, selected from current project from BT laboratories, are presented to highlight the practical design issues in these different styles. The styles and case studies presented are: • Information gathering – UK name and address recognition. • Spoken language command – network service configuration. • Natural language helpdesks – BT operator services. It is shown that large vocabulary information gathering systems require high accuracy, careful data modelling and well-designed strategies to boost confidence and accuracy. Spoken language command requires dialogue and grammar design and test complexity to be managed. Natural language task identification requires large volumes of training data, good learning algorithms and good data generalisation techniques. These styles can be mixed into a single interaction meaning that design frameworks of the future will have to address all of the aspects of the different interaction styles.