Containerised NFV orchestration and management

网络功能虚拟化(NFV)作为一种管理计算机网络和在物理连接基础上实现快速灵活的服务部署的方法，已经获得了越来越多的关注。目前的网络运营和管理(O&M)解决方案假定软件容器被部署在具有单一地理位置、高速通信和高性能基础设施的数据中心内。然而，如果容器网络功能可以分布在网络边缘，则可以获得许多网络收益。本博士研究将解决如何设计全网络平台来管理和互连网络功能的挑战，这些平台可以在规模上和在互联网上为许多客户提供网络功能。我们一直在使用OpenStack等平台以及我们自己的格拉斯哥网络功能(GNF)协调器，我们将进一步研究如何将此类平台设计为大规模工作(例如，数十亿个小型物联网设备)以及在网络资源利用率与CPU和内存资源使用率同等重要的异类环境中工作。关于协调服务和管理资源的数学解释有丰富的参考文献。使这项工作适应现代网络系统的需要可以产生重大成果。在NFV中，软件与硬件解耦，允许根据资源可用性或特定的资源约束进行服务迁移。这使得能够有效地管理资源并减少业务支出。这项研究将扩展Open MANO的工作，并致力于信通技术网络和分布式系统朝着最节能的运作方式的演变。实现这一点的方法是利用应用的概率和统计。通过开发利用网络资源和系统的智能方式，我们的目标是为互联国家的繁荣做出贡献。网络功能可以通过分析实时流量或硬件特性(如使用率、温度等)来准确监控网络参数。通过使用统计模型，可以检测恶意流量或硬件更改，并及时识别潜在的攻击。这一研究方向有助于建立一个安全的网络社会，并与EPSRC的弹性国家繁荣成果很好地结合在一起。此外，正在研究在网络边缘运行的虚拟计算基础设施，以开发智能家居和辅助离开技术，如健康和安全监测、环境和个人状况监测和警报等。因此，在该项目中开发的基础设施也将为健康国家繁荣的结果做出贡献。总体而言，该项目的目标是通过使智能成为NFV管理和协调的组成部分来促进网络通信。这项研究将与英国电信密切合作，英国电信通过iCASE奖项赞助这一博士学位，并希望探索用于高效管理客户场所设备的轻量级虚拟化技术。

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) has been gaining traction as a way to manage computer networks, and to enable fast and flexible service deployment on top of physical connectivity. Lightweight virtualization approaches such as, e.g., software containers, are also being increasingly explored as a platform for efficient orchestration and management of virtualised Network Functions at scale.Current networks operations and management (O&M) solutions assume software containers are deployed within data centres with single geographic location, high speed communications and high performance infrastructure. However, many network benefits can be obtained if container network functions can be distributed around the network edge.This PhD research will address the challenge of how to devise network-wide platforms that can manage and interconnect Network Functions for many customers at scale and over the Internet. We have been using platforms like Openstack as well as our own Glasgow Network Function (GNF) orchestrator, and we will further investigate how such platforms can be designed to work at scale (e.g., billions of small IoT devices) and over heterogeneous environments where network resource utilisation becomes as significant as CPU and memory resource use.There is a rich bibliography regarding the mathematical interpretation of orchestrating services and managing resources. An adaptation of this work to the needs of modern networking systems can lead to significant results. The evaluation of this adaptation will be done through simulation and also through deployment on actual testbed systems.In NFV, the software is decoupled from hardware allowing the migration of services according to resource availability or specific resource constraints. This enables an efficient management of resources and reduces the Operational Expenditure. This research will extend the work of Open MANO and working on the evolution of ICT networks and distributed systems towards the most energy efficient way of operation. The means to achieve that is by making use of applied probabilities and statistics. By developing an intelligent way of utilizing network resources and systems, we aim to contribute towards the Connected Nation prosperity outcome.Network functions can be used for accurate monitoring of network parameters through analysing real-time traffic or hardware characteristics like utilization, temperature, etc. By using statistical models, malicious traffic or hardware changes can be detected, and a potential attack can be promptly identified. This direction of research helps establish a safe cyber society and is well aligned with EPSRC's Resilient Nation prosperity outcome.In addition, virtualised computing infrastructure operating at the Edge of the network are being investigated for the development of smart-home and assisted leaving technologies such as health and safety monitoring, environmental and personal condition monitoring and alerting, etc. Therefore, the infrastructure developed within this project will also be contributing towards the Healthy Nation prosperity outcome.Overall, the goal of this project is to advance networking communications by making intelligence an integral part of NFV management and orchestration. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with BT who sponsor this PhD through an iCASE award, and want to explore lightweight virtulisation technologies for the efficient management of customer premises equipment.