Virtualized ICN (vICN): towards a unified network virtualization framework for ICN experimentation

To assess the feasibility and potential for deployment of new networking paradigms such as ICN, being able to carry out large scale experimentation and tests in real operational networks is crucial. Various platforms have been developed by the research community to support design and evaluation of specific aspects of ICN architecture. Most of them provide ICN-dedicated, small scale or application-specific environments and ad-hoc testing tools, non reusable in other contexts nor in real-world IP deployments. The goal of this paper is to contribute vICN (virtualized ICN), a unified open-source framework for network configuration and management that uses recent progresses in resource isolation and virtualization techniques. It offers a single, flexible and scalable platform to serve different purposes, ranging from reproducible large-scale research experimentation, to demonstrations with emulated and/or physical devices and network resources and to real deployments of ICN in existing IP networks. In the paper, we describe the rationale for vICN and its components, highlighting programmability, scalability and reliability as its core principles. Illustration of vICN properties is provided through concrete examples.