Profile-based Resource Allocation for Virtualized Network Functions

--The virtualization of compute and network resources enables an unseen flexibility for deploying network services. A wide spectrum of emerging technologies allows an ever-growing range of orchestration possibilities in cloud-based environments. But in this context it remains challenging to rhyme dynamic cloud configurations with deterministic performance. The service operator must somehow map the performance specification in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) to an adequate resource allocation in the virtualized infrastructure. We propose the use of a VNF profile to alleviate this process. This is illustrated by profiling the performance of four example network functions (a virtual router, switch, firewall and cache server) under varying workloads and resource configurations. We then compare several methods to derive a model from the profiled datasets. We select the most accurate method to further train a model which predicts the services' performance, in function of incoming workload and allocated resources. Our presented method can offer the service operator a recommended resource allocation for the targeted service, in function of the targeted performance and maximum workload specified in the SLA. This helps to deploy the softwarized service with an optimal amount of resources to meet the SLA requirements, thereby avoiding unnecessary scaling steps. HE advancements in the domain of cloud computing, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) enable a unseen flexibility and pro-grammability of both compute and network configurations. By softwarizing network functions, we move away from dedicated hardware based, monolithic systems to a virtualized solution for offering telecom services. The service is decomposed into multiple microservices which each get an allocated share of resources such as CPU time, memory access or network bandwidth. Typical tasks involved in network services include packet forwarding, routing, inspection or any other form of network traffic processing. Beyond the application layer, the deeper layers of the network traffic are checked or manipulated in a chained configuration. This means that network traffic is sequentially steered through a, possibly lengthy, chain of processors such as routers, firewalls, load-balancers or proxy-servers. In the NFV domain, the main aim is to provide softwarized solutions for each of those network functions, which can be deployed on commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) servers. Ideally, equally high performance is expected compared to rigid, dedicated hardware middleboxes, but at a lower cost, higher flexibility regarding scaling, configuration and less prone to vendor and technology lock-in. At deployment time of the network service, an estimation of the required capacity and related resource allocation needs to be made. The performance contract is given in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and should be translated to the required resources.