Building Multi-domain Service Function Chains Based on Multiple NFV Orchestrators

Abstract

Service Function Chains (SFCs) are compositions of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) designed to provide complex network services. In this work, we propose a strategy to build an SFC across multiple domains and multiple clouds using multiple NFV platforms, which we call a Multi-SFC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first solution to allow an SFC to be built across multiple different orchestrators - although there are other solutions for multiple domains and clouds. The basic building block of the proposed strategy is the SFC segment, in which all VNFs are connected within a single cloud/domain/platform. A pair of different segments is interconnected through a VNF tunnel that consists of a pair of VNFs, each interfacing one of the connected segments. A tunnel can be implemented with different technologies such as a VPN or VXLAN. The main advantage of the Multi-SFC strategy is that it is a holistic approach that allows operators to deploy SFCs on multiple clouds/domains/platforms without having to deal with a myriad of minute details required to configure and interconnect the different underlying technologies. A prototype was implemented as a proof of concept and experimental results are presented.