Workshop on Advances in Slicing for Softwarized Infrastructures (S4SI)
IEEE Conference on Network Softwarization

Agenda

Monday, June 25, 2018

8:30AM - 10:00AM S4SI

S4SI 1 - Chair: Stuart Clayman

A Layer 2 Traffic Steering Mechanism for Network Slicing scenarios
Jokin Garay, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain
Jon Matias, Keynetic Technologies, Spain
Juanjo Unzilla, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Spain
Eduardo Jacob, University of the Basque Country, Spain.

Abstract. The need to support a wide variety of requirements, from the different verticals envisioned, make slicing a core component of the 5G scenario. One of the foundations of slicing is the capability of isolating the different services provided, to guarantee the required performance for each of them. The performance impact of the isolation mechanisms themselves becomes a key aspect that must be carefully balanced and evaluated in all the components of the infrastructure. In this paper, we introduce L2TSM, a Layer 2 Traffic Steering Mechanism for Network Slicing scenarios, including Service Function Chaining and Network Function Virtualization deployments. L2TSM minimizes the overhead, simplifies exposing the programmability of the network devices to be exploited by the service functions and maintains the isolation between the service chains, through a software-defined and standard compliant addressing scheme. With a case study in our L2TSM prototype, we show how different types of traffic composing a service chain are supported and gather some insights on the performance of the solution.

Network Slicing for Critical Communications in Shared 5G Infrastructures: An Empirical Evaluation
Fabian Kurtz, Caner Bektas, Nils Dorsch, Christian Wietfeld, TU Dortmund University, Germany.

Abstract. Increasing automation in systems such as Smart Grids (SGs), Intelligent Transportation, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0, involves the need for robust, highly capable Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Traditionally, to meet diverging use case requirements regarding network data rate, delay, security, reliability and flexibility, dedicated communication infrastructures are employed. Yet, this is associated with high costs and lengthy roll-out times. Therefore it is desirable for multiple tenants to share one Physical Network (PN) However this may compromise service guarantees, potentially violating Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Network slicing aims to address this challenge by transparently dividing one common infrastructure into multiple, logically independent networks. Thereby tenants are isolated from one another, ensuring the fulfillment of hard performance guarantees. As slicing is central to realizing the potential of 5G networks, this work presents a novel approach based on Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) driven queueing strategies. The developed solution is comprehensively evaluated with realistic traffic in a physical testing environment. Highly demanding critical infrastructure use cases with multiple Service levels per slice, are used to validate performance and demonstrate functionalities such as dynamic data rate allocation.

Towards 5G network slicing for the V2X ecosystem
Claudia Campolo, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy
Ramon Fontes, Unicamp, Brazil
Antonella Molinaro, Universita Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Italy
Christian Esteve Rothenberg, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil
Antonio Iera, University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Italy.

Abstract. The automotive vertical market is currently undergoing key technological transformations as the number of connected and more autonomous vehicles grows, thus realizing the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication ecosystem. Such a revolution raises unprecedented challenges to the ICT players since ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliable connectivity is required under high mobility and density conditions, beyond what existing communication technologies can offer today. By allowing an operator to flexibly provide dedicated logical networks with customer specific (virtualized) functionalities over a common physical infrastructure, network slicing candidates itself as a prominent solution to support V2X over upcoming programmable and softwarized 5G systems. In this paper, we share our vision about V2X network slicing, by pinpointing key requirements and providing a set of design guidelines, aligned with ongoing 3GPP standard specifications and network softwarization directions. A network slicing framework is also discussed, along with the envisioned building blocks and supporting mechanisms, which permit to tackle the identified issues.

10:30AM - 12:00PM S4SI

S4SI 2 - Chair: Stuart Clayman

NECOS Project: Towards Lightweight Slicing of Cloud-Federated Infrastructures
Felipe Sampaio Dantas Silva, Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - IFRN, Brazil
Augusto Neto, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN, Brazil
Marcilio Lemos, UFRN, Brazil
Alisson Patrick Medeiros de Lima, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Christian Esteve Rothenberg, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil
Rafael Pasquini, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Brazil
David Moura, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil
Lefteris Mamatas, University of Macedonia, Greece.

Abstract. The Novel Enablers for Cloud Slicing (NECOS) project addresses the limitations of current cloud computing infrastructures to respond to the demand for new services, as presented in two use-cases, that will drive the whole execution of the project. The first use-case is focused on Telco service provider and is oriented towards the adoption of cloud computing in their large networks. The second use-case is targeting the use of edge clouds to support devices with low computation and storage capacity. The envisaged solution is based on a new concept, the Lightweight Slice Defined Cloud (LSDC), as an approach that extends the virtualization to all the resources in the involved networks and data centers and provides uniform management with a high-level of orchestration. In this position paper, we discuss the motivation, objectives, architecture, research challenges (and how to overcome them) and initial efforts for the NECOS project.

Federation of Cross-Domain Edge Resources: a Brokering Architecture for Network Slicing
Amina Boubendir, Orange Labs / Télécom ParisTech, France
Fabrice Guillemin, Orange Labs, France
Sylvaine Kerboeuf, Barbara Orlandi, Frédéric Faucheux, Nokia Bell Labs, France
Christophe Le Toquin, Orange Labs, France
Jean-Luc Lafragette, Nokia Bell Labs, France
Marie-Line Alberi Morel, Nokia Paris Saclay, France.

Abstract. We present an architectural model enabling a network operator to federate IT and network resources owned by private third-party actors located at the edge of the network. The cornerstone of this architecture is a brokering layer that relies on a graph-based resource database model. The brokering layer contains all the necessary functions allowing such federation: exposure of cross-domain third-party resources towards network operators and their qualification for deployment and provisioning. We have implemented a Proof-of-Concept of the proposed architecture which we illustrate through the federation of a Stadium infrastructure resources, then through the on-demand creation and deployment of end-to-end network slices over multiple domains for event services. Finally, we present and discuss performance evaluation results.

Slicing and Allocation of Transformable Resources for the Deployment of Multiple Virtualized Infrastructure Managers (VIMs)
Leandro Freitas, Instituto Federal de Goias, Brazil
Vinicius Braga, Universidade Federal de Goias, Brazil
Sand Correa, Universidade Federal de Goiás - UFG, Brazil
Lefteris Mamatas, University of Macedonia, Greece
Christian Esteve Rothenberg, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil
Stuart Clayman, University College London, Great Britain
Kleber Cardoso, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil.

Abstract. In the context of 5G networks, the concept of network slicing allows network providers to flexibly share infrastructures with mobile service providers and verticals. While this concept has been widely investigated considering mostly the network issues, in this work we focus on a slice as a service model that takes into account the data center (DC) perspective. In particular, we propose an architecture where DC slices are created over transformable (compute and storage) resources, which can be virtualized or de-virtualized on-demand. Then, on top of each slice, an on-demand VIM is instantiated to control the allocated resources. As a realization of this architecture, we introduce the DC Slice Controller, a system able to deploy and delivery full operational VIMs based on generic templates. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system deploying three VIMs (VLSP, Kubernetes, and OpenStack) over commodity hardware. Experimental results show that the DC Slice Controller can timely provide a slice even when dealing with sophisticated VIMs such as OpenStack. As an example, we were able to delivery a full functional OpenStack in four nodes in less than 10 minutes.

12:00AM - 12:30PM S4SI

Wrap Up - Chair: Stuart Clayman