NFV Service Function Chain Availability Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
NFV-based networks face vulnerabilities such as software and hardware errors, which can halt the operations of service function chains, requiring higher availability and additional security measures beyond mere embedding of virtual network functions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that selects and configures virtual network function instances to form service function chains based on calculated availability cost ratio values and importance, ensuring high availability by adding instances where necessary to maintain or exceed a predetermined threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple VNF instances are deployed to ensure high availability, then system reliability improves, but resource cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameters for VNF instances by introducing an availability cost ratio metric that综合考虑 availability and cost. The control apparatus calculates availability cost ratio values for different VNF instances and selects instances based on these calculated parameters, transforming the simple instance selection into a parameter-driven optimization process that balances reliability and resource usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus performs preliminary calculations of availability cost ratio values for all candidate VNF instances before constructing the SFC. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-evaluate all possible instance selections and their impact on overall availability, enabling informed decisions about which instances to deploy and how to configure them for optimal reliability-cost balance.
2Reliability
If more VNF instances are added to increase availability, then system reliability improves, but resource cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces availability cost ratio as a new parameter that combines availability metrics with resource cost considerations. By calculating and comparing these ratio values across different VNF instances, the system identifies the most cost-effective instances for deployment, ensuring that each additional instance contributes maximally to availability while minimizing resource expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system does not deploy all available VNF instances nor does it deploy a fixed number, but rather selects a partial set of instances that achieves the required availability threshold. The control apparatus adds instances selectively based on availability cost ratio calculations, stopping when the SFC meets the predetermined availability requirement, thus avoiding excessive resource consumption.
3Productivity
If VNF instances are selected without considering availability cost ratio, then configuration speed improves, but availability optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary calculations of availability cost ratio values for all candidate VNF instances before the actual SFC construction. This preliminary evaluation phase separates the computationally intensive optimization calculations from the instance selection process, allowing the system to quickly retrieve and compare pre-calculated ratios during configuration, thus maintaining speed while achieving optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual or heuristic instance selection methods with an automated calculation and comparison system. The control apparatus automatically computes availability cost ratio values and selects instances based on these calculated metrics, substituting human judgment with a systematic algorithmic approach that simultaneously improves both speed and optimization quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for processing network packets based on NFV for ensuring high availability are disclosed. The disclosed system may include: at least one server, where a multiple number of VNF's for performing particular service functions are formed in the at least one server, each of the VNF's including at least one VNF instance; and a control apparatus that sequentially selects an M number of VNF's and selects one VNF instance from each of the selected M number of VNF's to configure an SFC, where the control apparatus may calculate an availability cost ratio value associated with each of the at least one VNF instance within VNF i+1 with respect to a VNF instance selected from VNF i (i being an integer from 1 to M) and may select a VNF instance within the VNF i+1 corresponding to the maximum value among the availability cost ratio values.