A PCE-Based Architecture for Application-Based Network Operations

Abstract

Services such as content distribution, distributed databases, or inter-data center connectivity place a set of new requirements on the operation of networks. They need on-demand and application-specific reservation of network connectivity, reliability, and resources (such as bandwidth) in a variety of network applications (such as point-topoint connectivity, network virtualization, or mobile back-haul) and in a range of network technologies from packet (IP/MPLS) down to optical. An environment that operates to meet these types of requirements is said to have Application-Based Network Operations (ABNO). ABNO brings together many existing technologies and may be seen as the use of a toolbox of existing components enhanced with a few new elements.This document describes an architecture and framework for ABNO, showing how these components fit together. It provides a cookbook of existing technologies to satisfy the architecture and meet the needs of the applications. Status of This MemoThis document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is published for informational purposes.This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has received public review and has been approved for publication by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Not all documents approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7491. Networks today integrate multiple technologies allowing network infrastructure to deliver a variety of services to support the different characteristics and demands of applications. There is an increasing demand to make the network responsive to service requests issued directly from the application layer. This differs from the established model where services in the network are delivered in response to management commands driven by a human user.These application-driven requests and the services they establish place a set of new requirements on the operation of networks. They need on-demand and application-specific reservation of network connectivity, reliability, and resources (such as bandwidth) in a variety of network applications (such as point-to-point connectivity, network virtualization, or mobile back-haul) and in a range of network technologies from packet (IP/MPLS) down to optical. An environment that operates to meet this type of application-aware requirement is said to have Application-Based Network Operations (ABNO).The Path Computation Element (PCE) [RFC4655] was developed to provide path computation services for GMPLS-and MPLS-controlled networks.The applicability of PCEs can be extended to provide path computation and policy enforcement capabilities for ABNO platforms and services.ABNO can provide the following types of service to applications by coordinating the components that operate and manag...

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