Enabling End-Host Network Functions

Abstract

Many network functions executed in modern datacenters, e.g., load balancing, application-level QoS, and congestion control, exhibit three common properties at the data-plane: they need to access and modify state, to perform computations, and to access application semantics -- this is critical since many network functions are best expressed in terms of application-level messages. In this paper, we argue that the end hosts are a natural enforcement point for these functions and we present Eden, an architecture for implementing network functions at datacenter end hosts with minimal network support. Eden comprises three components, a centralized controller, an enclave at each end host, and Eden-compliant applications called stages. To implement network functions, the controller configures stages to classify their data into messages and the enclaves to apply action functions based on a packet's class. Our Eden prototype includes enclaves implemented both in the OS kernel and on programmable NICs. Through case studies, we show how application-level classification and the ability to run actual programs on the data-path allows Eden to efficiently support a broad range of network functions at the network's edge.

Application-Agnostic Offloading of Datagram Processing

“…To this end, classic network processing tasks, steered by the user space, such as firewalling and demultiplexing have long been a kernel feature [34] often enabled via packet filters [31] such as BPF [29]. Moreover, advancements in NFV make use of this concept of executing user-level code in the kernel environment [4,38]. Another example application represents the implementation of a kernel-level HTTP cache [5,25].…”

Maximizing the Profit of Datacenter Networks with HPFF

“…Therefore, how to effectively calculate the priority for each flow is the first problem to solve. Since end host is effortless to acquire flows' real-time requirements [4], the functions of flow priority calculation, rate control and perflow priority tagging are implemented at end hosts. Existing commodity DCN switches always support 4-8 priority queues [1], so how to guarantee per-flow requirements is another problem to solve.…”

A SDN controller architecture for Small Cell Wireless Backhaul using a LTE Control Channel

“…This communication channel can be established in the same network interface as the one used for the data plane (in-band connectivity) [4] or in a different interface (out-of-band) [5]. With inband connectivity, the infrastructure costs are reduced, but if link failure occurs, the node loses the connection with the controller.…”