Outsourcing network functionality

This paper presents an architecture for adding functionality to networks via outsourcing. In this model, the enterprise network only forwards data; any additional processing is performed by external Feature Providers (FPs). FPs provide and manage features, scaling and moving them in response to customer demand, and providing automated recovery in case of failure. Benefits to the enterprise include reduced cost and management complexity, improved features through FP specialization, and increased choice in services. Central to the model are a policy component and a Feature API (FAPI). Policy is specified with features not locations, enabling features to be located anywhere. FAPI enables communication between enterprise and FP control planes to share policy and configure features. We have built a prototype implementation of this architecture called Jingling. Our prototype system incorporates a nation-wide backbone network and FPs located in six sites around the United States.