NFV Virtual Machine Instance Co-Location for Service Chain Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing network architectures, multiple service processing devices are connected in series, leading to increased processing capacity demands, unnecessary network device investments, and fault points, resulting in inefficient service flow processing and potential interruptions when a service processing device fails.

Innovation Solution

Deploying virtual machine instances of value-added servers (VAS) and service switches (SSW) on the same physical machine, with predefined communication relationships, to reduce communication requirements and enhance processing efficiency by minimizing inter-machine communication and optimizing service chain processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple service processing devices are connected in series, then service flow processing can be performed, but processing capacity demand increases and fault points increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice flow processing capabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments service flows into different service chains based on user subscriptions and service types. Each service chain is independently routed through specific service processing devices, so that not all service flows pass through all devices. This segmentation reduces the processing capacity demand on each individual device and eliminates single points of failure, as a fault in one service chain does not affect other service chains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple service processing devices are connected in series, then comprehensive service processing is achieved, but unnecessary network device investment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice processing coverageVSAvoidnumber of network devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal service chain routing mechanism that can dynamically direct different service flows through different sequences of service processing devices based on user subscriptions and service types. This multi-functional routing approach allows the same physical network infrastructure to support diverse service processing requirements without needing dedicated devices for each service type, thereby reducing unnecessary network device investment while maintaining comprehensive service processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If VAS instances and SSW instances are deployed on different physical machines, then resource distribution is achieved, but communication capability requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice chain processing efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication capability requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines VAS instances and SSW instances that have communication relationships onto the same physical machine. This merging eliminates the need for inter-machine communication between these components, thereby reducing communication capability requirements and network overhead. The consolidation improves service chain processing efficiency by allowing direct local communication between VAS and SSW instances while maintaining resource distribution across multiple physical machines for other components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3226132B1Method and apparatus for deploying virtual machine instances in a NFV architecture
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3226132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3226132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3226132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for deploying a virtual machine instance is disclosed, so as to lower requirements for a communication capability of a virtualized value-added server and improve processing efficiency of a service chain. A corresponding apparatus and device are further provided. The method includes: obtaining communication relationships between a value-added server VAS instances and a service switch SSW instances from a service template, where the VAS instances and the SSW instances are used to provide services in a service chain (301), and the service chain and the communication relationships between the VAS instances and the SSW instances are defined in the service template; and deploying, according to the communication relationships, an SSW instance and a VAS instance that need to communicate with each other in the SSW instances and the VAS instances on a same physical machine (302).