Programmable Named Data-based Next Generation Software-Defined WANs

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Software Defined Networking is an emerging paradigm that provides networks the ability of having extensive control over traffic flows to meet application needs. Research and practical architecture designs efforts are driving today's technology to embrace the concept of programmability of data plane devices along with an abstract layer for the control plane. Furthermore, Named Data Networking is a promising content-centric architecture that uses routable content names instead of IP addresses to achieve location-independent forwarding. With Named Data Networking, Software Defined Networking will transform the network Industry into an open ecosystem by enabling the development of new softwarized network architectures, such as a softwarized wide-area named-data-network architecture, that can serve resource-constrained devices interacting with modern dispersed and content-centric applications. We believe that the stars are now aligned to develop softwarized wide-area named-data-networks thanks to (i) advances in network softwarization and virtualization;(ii) the growing trend of adopting programmable switches; (iii) the emergence of content centric networking concepts and (iv) the maturation of artificial intelligence techniques. However, a number of fundamental challenges must be addressed in order to create the synergy among these technologies and realize a softwarized network. The long-term objective of this research program is to address key research challenges for realizing the vision of a novel softwarized wide-area named-data-network. To achieve this goal, we will focus on the following three primary short-term objectives: (1) Design a novel virtualized and programmable data plane that can serve both IP and named-data packets. The data plane must be able to parse/de-parse and process packets at line speed, and offer a wide range of packet processing capabilities. (2) Develop a consistent and scalable control plane orchestration with the goal of minimizing the controller and data plane interactions while achieving scalability and consistency to ensure the efficient coexistence of network functions for both IP and named-data flows. (3) Extend the data plane with intelligence to adapt to the needs of evolving applications (e.g., the ability to create preconfigured traffic highways with no store-and-forward processing) and to bring new customized services to content-based applications (e.g., line-speed in-network packet load processing and caching). Realizing the vision of softwarized wide-area named-data-network will be essential in future next generation networks and services. It will contribute to rapid deployment of innovative network services while reducing network operator's capital and operational expenditures. The proposed research program will produce the trainees needed to drive next wave of network innovation. The outcome of this research will serve as the seed for Canada's national leadership in the fast-paced digital advances.