JP2013179494A - Virtual network infrastructure control system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a high QoS performance of a virtual link in a network in which general purpose communication devices (communication devices for a transport network) coexist.SOLUTION: A system according to the invention includes a service network controller (SNC) for an exclusive communication device of a management control system in a service network, and a transport network controller (TNC) for a general purpose communication device of a management control system in a transport network. When the SNC obtains a slice design input by a development user and including a QoS provision logically generated on a network infrastructure, the SNC requests the TNC to generate a transport path together with a parameter to generate a virtual link (LS, Link Sliver), and thereby, sets up the transport path for the exclusive communication device corresponding to the slice design, and generates the virtual link LS in the transport path.

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual network infrastructure control system and method, and more particularly, to a virtual network infrastructure control system and method in a network in which general-purpose communication devices (transport network communication devices) are mixed.

  Various methods for network virtualization have been studied (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). There, a network infrastructure is constructed only from communication devices that provide virtual links and virtual nodes, and use or cooperation of a transport network (core network) used in general network services is not assumed.

  The same is true for the “NICT Virtualization Node Project” we have conducted so far (see Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3), and the network is composed only of “virtual nodes” that provide virtual links and virtual nodes. A configuration in which “virtualized nodes” are directly connected by a link has been assumed.

N. M. Mosharaf Kabir Chowdhury, "A Survey of Network Virtualization", Science Technique, CS-2008-25, Oct. 2008. NICT NEWS, No. 393, Jun 2010 .. Yamamoto et al., "Virtual Network Management Model Considering Slicing", IEICE Society Conference, pp. 1349-1369, 2011.

  However, when a service that provides a virtual network (logical network) is regarded as one carrier network service, it is necessary to construct a service network only from the communication device (virtual node) to reduce the equipment cost and maintenance operation cost. For example, it is considered that a communication device (virtualized node) is connected to an existing transport network and may play a role of data transport between the communication devices (virtualized node). That is, the communication device of the transport network is interposed between the communication devices (virtualized nodes), and the data is transferred in the same manner as other network services.

  On the other hand, in a virtual network service that realizes behavior like a physical network, the virtual links that make up the virtual network are expected to have high QoS performance (bandwidth guarantee, etc.). The port network is also required to satisfy the performance requirements of the virtual link.

  Therefore, in virtual link generation that requires such high QoS performance, for example, the NMS (Network Management System) of the virtual network transmits the QoS performance to the NMS of the transport network before the generation, so that the performance is satisfied. It is necessary to control the communication device of the transport network and provide connectivity (Reachability, logical connection) between the communication devices (virtual nodes).

  For example, in FIG. 1A, a virtual node (vNode) group has a virtual network constructed by a virtual node connection link, but in FIG. 1B, the virtual node group has a switch / router or the like between virtual nodes. It is connected by Open Flow network and optical switch network. In order to provide connectivity to virtual nodes by optical paths and to provide strict QoS between virtual nodes, the operator (NMS) should also manage and operate the lower-level network (transport network).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a virtualized network infrastructure control system capable of realizing high QoS performance of virtual links in a network in which general-purpose communication devices (transport network communication devices) are mixed, and It aims to provide a method.

The present invention (Claim 1) provides a virtual or logical network by virtually creating a link between nodes in a service network in the network, or by virtually creating a node in the network node. A virtual network management control system,
SNC (Service Network Controller) of the dedicated communication device of the management control system in the service network,
TNC (Transport Network Controller) of the general-purpose communication device of the management control system in the transport network,
The SNC is
[0] When a slice design that includes a QoS specification that is logically generated on the network infrastructure is obtained from the development user, a transport path is generated along with parameters for generating a virtual link (LS: Link Sliver). By requesting the TNC, a transport path is set for a dedicated communication device corresponding to the slice design, and a virtual link LS (Link Sliver) is generated in the transport path. A setting request means,
The TNC is
A transport path generating unit that secures a transport path band and manages a free band, receives a request to generate the transport path from the SNC, and generates a transport path in response to the request.

Further, the present invention (Claim 2) is the SNC,
Transport path end points between transport network edge node devices, service network nodes connected to the edge node devices, connection short points of already generated virtual links, transport path ID, virtual network ID, the service network First network information storage means for holding free bandwidth of management resources in
Based on the transport path generation request, the first network information storage means is referred to calculate the bandwidth of the transport path, and if the available bandwidth is insufficient, the transport to the TNC Bandwidth calculation means for requesting path generation.

Further, the present invention (Claim 3) is the TNC,
A second network information storage means for storing a free bandwidth of a management resource in the transport network, a connection end point of a virtual link, a transport path ID, and a transport path end point;
When a request for generating the transport path is received from the SNC, the free bandwidth for generating the transport path of the second network information storage means is referred to. Network information that is generated, updates the free bandwidth of the management resource with a value obtained by subtracting the capacity of the transport path bandwidth from the free bandwidth, and stores the generated transport path ID in the second network information storage means Management means.

  According to the present invention, when one independent slice which is a virtualized network is constructed, a transport path according to QoS is generated from the virtual network NMS (SNC) to the transport NMS (TNS). By requesting and generating LS (Link Sliver) in the transport path, it is possible to achieve high QoS performance of virtual links even in a network where general-purpose communication devices (transport network communication devices) are mixed. .

It is an example of the conventional virtual network. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary operation | movement in one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows TNC and SNC in one embodiment of this invention. It is an operation | movement sequence between SNC and TNC in one embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the management resource for transport path generation in one embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence chart of the transport setting in one embodiment of the present invention. It is the example which applied the optical path in one embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, terms used in this specification will be defined.

  ・ Virtualized network infrastructure: A network (network node: consisting of a communication device and a link) that has the function of creating nodes and links virtually and providing them as a virtual network (logical network). Equivalent to.

  -Slice slice: A virtual / logical network that is created by combining nodes and links generated virtually / logically, and provided to the development user by the virtualization network infrastructure administrator.

  LS (LinkSliver): A virtual / logically generated link that constitutes Slice.

  Service network: A network that provides a specific network service (network: consisting of nodes and links). For example, a wide area Ether service network corresponds.

  Service network management control system (SNC): A management control system (corresponding to a network management system (NMS)) of a node (service network node) in a service network.

  Transport network: A common packet transfer network infrastructure that does not depend on the service network system, and is also called a core network or a backbone network.

  Transport network management control system (TNC): A management and control system (corresponding to NMS) for the node devices constituting the transport network system.

  Transport path: A logical communication path connecting service network nodes connected to or between edge node devices of a transport network.

  It has a function of transferring a packet input from the service network node to the transport network node through the transport network (may be duplicated) and outputting the packet from the transport network node to the service network node. The transport path may be set with QoS or may not be set with QoS.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline operation in one embodiment of the present invention.

  (1) A development user (slice managing entity) sends a slice design including an LS (Link Sliver) with QoS specifications to the NMS as a slice request. Here, the “slice” refers to a virtual network or a service network that is logically generated on the network infrastructure.

  (2) When the NMS receives the slice design, the NMS generates a link between the virtualization nodes under the control of the switch / router of the virtualization network.

  (3) The NMS realizes a slice by setting LS on the generated link, and responds to QoS from the development user. Thereby, the development user uses (customizes) the generated slice. Note that LS is set because in a virtualized network, multiple slices must coexist, because traffic from multiple development users enters one link (transport path). To set them logically or to show them apart. For example, VLAN and GRE are conceivable as mounting methods, and these are distinguished by these IDs and keys.

  FIG. 3 shows a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an NMS 100, a service network 200, and a transport network 300.

  The NMS 100 includes a dedicated communication device (hereinafter referred to as “SNC” (Service Node network Controller)) 110 that performs control and management of virtual nodes in the service network 200 according to a request from a development user, an SNC 110, or an operator (network infrastructure). And a general-purpose communication device (hereinafter referred to as “TNC” (Transport Network Controller)) 120 that manages and controls each node constituting the transport network 300 in accordance with an instruction from the management entity.

  The service network 200 is a higher-level service network including nodes having a function (Function Block) for providing a certain network service and physical / logical connectivity connecting the nodes.

  The transport network 300 connects nodes in the service network 200 and transfers data regardless of the type of the node in the service network 200. The transport network 300 transfers frames / packets that do not depend on the service to be accommodated. A means (capsuling / tag) is provided, and a path (Tunnel) for transmitting the frame / packet between service nodes is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the NMS 100 of the present invention, the virtual node group of the service network 200 and the transport network 300 are clearly separated and controlled by the SNC 110 and the TNC 120.

  The SNC 110 includes a control unit 111 and a network information storage unit 112. The network information storage unit 112 holds the guaranteed bandwidth, allowable delay, edge node, and the like of the link. Specifically, an identifier, an implementation method, a waypoint, resource information, an end point, a property, and the like necessary for generating an LS. Upon receiving a slice request from the development user, the control unit 111 refers to the network information storage unit 112 in response to the slice request, controls the service network 200, or sends a slice generation request to the TNC 120. To do. The SNC 110 controls the virtual node 210 and generates an LS that is a virtual link in a transport path that is a connection link between the virtual nodes. Specifically, although it depends on the means for realizing the LS, it is generated by setting a switch as an end point on the route. For example, when the LS is realized by a VLAN, the corresponding VLAN ID is set on a route and a switch at an end point (for example, a VLAN tagged port is set so as to connect them). If the realization means is GRE, it is set so that it is encapsulated in GRE and sent or received.

  The TNC 120 includes a control unit 121 and a network information storage unit 122. The network information storage unit 122 holds the guaranteed bandwidth, allowable delay, edge node, and the like of the link in the storage unit, and the control unit 121 receives a network information storage unit in response to an operation request from the operator or the SNC 110 for the transport network 300. To control the TN 300 and establish a transport path. Note that the TNC 120 does not manage resource information associated with LS generation.

  Next, operations of the SNC 110 and the TNC 120 in the NMS 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Step 101) The development user generates an LS generation request (Slice Design) designating an end point virtual node (Node Sliver), QoS, and the like, and inputs this to the SNC 110 as a slice generation request.

  Step 102) When the SNC 110 obtains the slice generation request, the SNC 110 refers to the ID, implementation means, and waypoint necessary for generating the LS stored in the network information storage unit 112 in advance based on the request. The QoS rules such as the communication capacity necessary to accommodate the data are calculated. The ID necessary for generating the LS is an identifier for identifying the LS. For example, a natural number uniquely assigned to the system or a key for each LS realization means (for example, GREkey, endpoint, and VLAN ID) Combination).

  Step 103) With reference to the free bandwidth capacity stored in the network information storage unit 122, if the communication capacity for generating the transport path is insufficient, the virtual node, QoS, etc. of the end point are set to the TNC 120. Specify and request generation of insufficient transport paths. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the SNC 110 determines whether the capacity for generating the transport path is insufficient in the SNC 110. In the example of FIG. 6, since the SNC 110 has insufficient bandwidth capacity for generating a transport path, a request for generation is made to the TNC 120.

  Step 104) The TNC 120 generates the requested transport path based on the request acquired from the SNC 110. At this time, as an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the TNC 120 refers to the network information storage unit 122, extracts endpoint path route candidates of the transport path, checks whether there is a free bandwidth, and has sufficient bandwidth. Select a route. The information used at this time includes the end point of the transport path, the connection relationship of communication devices such as switches managed by the TNC 120, and the free bandwidth of each. Thereafter, the capacity of the used management resource is subtracted from the free bandwidth capacity of the network information storage unit 122, and the communication capacity of the free bandwidth is updated with the value. Further, the generated transport path ID and connection end point are stored in the network information storage unit 122.

  The SNC 110 is notified that the transport path has been generated.

  Step 105) The SNC 110 generates an LS on the transport path.

  Step 106) The SNC 110 notifies the development user that the creation of the slice has been completed.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to an optical path.

  As described above, an interface for setting a transport path according to the virtual link QoS is provided in the NMS between the SNC 110 that manages and controls the virtual network and the TNC 120 that manages and controls the transport network. A transport path is dynamically provided between communication devices (virtualized nodes) at the time of link generation. As a result, the virtual link can satisfy high QoS performance.

  The operation of the SNC 110 and TNC 120 in the NMS 100 can be constructed as a program and installed in a computer used as an NMS for execution or distributed via a network.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims.

100 NMS (Network Management System)
110 Dedicated communication device (SNC)
111 Control Unit 112 Network Information Storage Unit 120 General-purpose Communication Device (TNC)
121 Control Unit 122 Network Information Storage Unit 200 Service Network 210 Virtual Node 300 Transport Network

Claims (6)

A virtual network management control system that provides a virtual or logical network by virtually creating a link between nodes in a service network in the network, or virtually creating a node in the network node,
SNC (Service Network Controller) of the dedicated communication device of the management control system in the service network,
TNC (Transport Network Controller) of the general-purpose communication device of the management control system in the transport network,
The SNC is
In order to create a virtual link (LS: Link Sliver) when a slice design including QoS specifications, which is a form of a virtual network and a service network that are logically generated on the network infrastructure, input from the development user is obtained. By requesting the TNC to generate a transport path with the parameters of the transport path, a transport path is set for the dedicated communication device corresponding to the slice design, and a virtual link LS ( Link Sliver) to generate transport path setting request means,
The TNC is
Transport path generation means that secures a bandwidth of a transport path and manages a free band, receives a request to generate the transport path from the SNC, and generates a transport path in response to the request. A virtual network management control system. The SNC is
Transport path end points between transport network edge node devices, service network nodes connected to the edge node devices, connection short points of already generated virtual links, transport path ID, virtual network ID, the service network First network information storage means for holding free bandwidth of management resources in
Based on the transport path generation request, the first network information storage means is referred to calculate the bandwidth of the transport path, and if the available bandwidth is insufficient, the transport to the TNC Bandwidth calculation means for requesting path generation;
The virtual network management control system according to claim 1 comprising: The TNC is
A second network information storage means for storing a free bandwidth of a management resource in the transport network, a connection end point of a virtual link, a transport path ID, and a transport path end point;
When a request for generating the transport path is received from the SNC, the free bandwidth for generating the transport path of the second network information storage means is referred to. Network information that is generated, updates the free bandwidth of the management resource with a value obtained by subtracting the capacity of the transport path bandwidth from the free bandwidth, and stores the generated transport path ID in the second network information storage means Management means;
The virtual network management control system according to claim 1 comprising: A virtual network management control method for providing a virtual or logical network by virtually creating a link between nodes in a service network in a network, or virtually creating a node in the network node,
SNC (Service Network Controller) of the dedicated communication device of the management control system in the service network,
In a system having a general-purpose communication device TNC (Transport Network Controller) of a management control system in a transport network,
The SNC is
When a slice design that includes QoS specifications that are logically generated on the network infrastructure input from the development user is obtained, transport path generation is performed along with parameters for generating a virtual link (LS: Link Sliver). By requesting the TNC, a transport path is set for a dedicated communication device corresponding to the slice design, and a virtual link LS (Link Sliver) is generated in the transport path. Perform the setting request step
The TNC is
A transport path generation step is performed for securing a transport path bandwidth and managing a free bandwidth, receiving a request for generating the transport path from the SNC, and generating a transport path in response to the request. A virtual network management control method characterized by the above. In the SNC,
The first network information storage means includes transport node end points of transport networks, end points of transport paths between service network nodes connected to the edge node devices, connection short points of already generated virtual links, transport paths. ID, virtual network ID, free bandwidth of management resources in the service network,
Based on the transport path generation request, the first network information storage means is referred to calculate the bandwidth of the transport path, and if the available bandwidth is insufficient, the transport to the TNC The virtual network management control method according to claim 4, wherein the generation of a path is requested. In the TNC,
The second network information storage means stores the free bandwidth of the management resource in the transport network, the connection end point of the virtual link, the transport path ID, and the transport path end point,
When a request for generating the transport path is received from the SNC, the free bandwidth for generating the transport path of the second network information storage means is referred to. And generating and updating the free bandwidth of the management resource with a value obtained by subtracting the capacity of the transport path bandwidth from the free bandwidth, and storing the generated transport path ID in the second network information storage means. 5. The virtual network management control method according to 4.

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