Virtual DBA: virtualizing passive optical networks to enable multi-service operation in true multi-tenant environments

Abstract

This paper presents the concept of virtual DBA, a method we propose to virtualize upstream capacity scheduling in PONs, which provides multiple independent virtual network operators with the ability to precisely schedule their upstream traffic allocation. After a brief introduction on the evolution of access network sharing, we present our virtual DBA architecture, detailing its main components. We then provide a summary of the work done in this area both from theoretical and practical implementation perspectives. In this paper, we propose a novel stateless algorithm for merging multiple independent virtual bandwidth maps based on priority classes and analyze its performance in terms of efficiency of capacity allocation and latency. Through our results we discuss the existence of a trade-off between traffic load and grant size distribution vs. efficiency and latency. We find that, differently from residential single-tenant application, when PONs are used for low latency and multi-tenant applications, the system has better overall performance if grants are allocated in small size. In addition, our analysis shows that for high priority, strict latency services, our proposed merging algorithm presents delay performance that is independent of the traffic distribution considered.

Experimental Demonstration of RAN Functional Split over virtual PON Transport Network

“…Other lower priority traffic (Traffic Classes 1,2 and 3) makes up the remainder (40%) of the upstream traffic. The authors in [16] analysed how different mixes of upstream traffic priorities affect each other.…”

Lasers in Passive Optical Networks and the Activation Process of an End Unit: A Tutorial

“…Thanks to the high redundancy of the transmission capacity and the time diversity of their usage, it is possible to divide transmission capacity into time slots, which are assigned to end users (downstream) [1,28]. Recognition of the beginning and end of each time slot is achieved by using additional headers for each frame.…”

Evolution of access network sharing towards software based passive optical network: can virtual OLTs run at full line rate?

“…However, this architecture was not developed with multi-tenancy as a primary goal. Our solution, initially presented in [7] and more recently consolidated in [8], proposes the concept of virtual DBA, where multiple DBA instances are created and operated independently by different virtual operators. Their outcomes are then merged together into a physical bandwidth map.…”