The upcoming fifth generation (5G) of mobile communications urge software defined networks (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) to join forces with the multiaccess edge computing (MEC) cause. Thus, reduced latency and increased capacity at the edge of the network can be achieved, to satisfy the requirements of the internet of things (IoT) ecosystem. If not properly orchestrated, the flexibility of the virtual network functions (VNFs) incorporation, in terms of deployment and lifecycle management, may cause serious issues in the NFV scheme. As the service level agreements (SLAs) of the 5G applications compete in an environment with traffic variations and VNF placement options with diverse computing or networking resources, an online placement approach is needed. In this paper, we discuss the VNF lifecycle management challenges that arise from such heterogeneous architecture, in terms of VNF onboarding and scheduling. In particular, we enhance the intelligence of the NFV orchestrator (NFVO) by providing i) a latency-based embedding mechanism, where the VNFs are initially allocated to the appropriate tier, and ii) an online scheduling algorithm, where the VNFs are instantiated, scaled, migrated and destroyed based on the actual traffic. Finally, we design and implement a MEC-enabled 5G platform to evaluate our proposed mechanisms in real-life scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed scheme maximizes the number of served users in the system by taking advantage of the online allocation of edge and core resources, without violating the application SLAs.
As industries are under pressure for shorter business and product lifecycles, there is an extensive effort from the research community for novel and profitable automation processes. This effort has given rise to the 5G Tactile Internet, which is characterized by extremely low latency communication in combination with high availability, reliability and security. In this paper, we discuss the key technologies to support the Tactile Internet characteristics in industrial environments and, then, we showcase the implementation of a novel 5G NFV-enabled experimental platform. Given that ultra-reliable low-latency communications is crucial for the manufacturing process, we demonstrate that, in our setup, sub-millisecond end-to-end communication is attainable, proving the suitability of our platform for tactile Internet industrial applications.
The upcoming fifth generation (5G) of mobile communications brings new paradigms, such as network slicing and automation, to the forefront. Cloud computing and network function virtualization (NFV) constitute two fundamental key enablers towards the implementation of these new paradigms. On the one hand, computational functionalities are no longer limited to distant servers, but they are coming closer to the end user through Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) technology, thus creating a multi-tier cloud architecture in modern networks. On the other hand, going beyond the existing rigid architectures, NFV enables the flexible and on-the-fly creation and placement both of application and network functions, aiming at satisfying the diverse application requirements and optimizing the management of the heterogeneous (network, computational and storage) resources. In this paper, we discuss the challenges that arise in a MEC-enabled 5G architecture that supports the flexible placement/migration of network and application virtual network functions (VNFs), orchestrated by an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) with admission management functionalities, able to manage on-the-fly the network functions and resources. Finally, we describe in detail a MECenabled testbed architecture that facilitates the development and testing of such solution in the context of 5G networks.
This paper describes in detail the design of a 5G platform based on the C-RAN architecture, with a fully virtualized Radio Access Network (RAN) and an optical/wireless Fronthaul. The wireless and optical domains are controlled by a hierarchy of Software Defined Networking (SDN) controllers, which are responsible for endto-end optimization of the platform, including the Fronthaul and 5G air interfaces. The proposed architecture adopts a modular eNodeB (eNB) design, where virtualized BBU and RRH entities are implemented with Commercial Off-Τhe-Shelf (COTS) components. Moreover, a mmWave RAU is connected to the BBU via a feeder optical fiber, interconnecting one or more RRH units with the BBU over mmWave interfaces. COTS components and Ethernet interfaces are employed for C-RAN prototyping of our platform, facilitating flexibility, cost reduction and increased scalability.
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