VNF-to-VIM Migration Sequencing for Peak Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for migrating virtual network functions (VNFs) to virtual infrastructure managers (VIMs) do not optimize query volumes based on interlinked components, leading to potential peak loads and inefficient resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A migration controller that obtains network complexity, VM usage, and processing capacity information to determine a mapping between VNFs and VIMs, ordering migrations to evenly distribute load across VIMs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If queries are distributed to avoid peak loads on VIMs, then load balancing is improved, but the complexity of request management increases due to decomposition into multiple subsequent requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the migration order of VNFs before actual migration begins. The orchestration node calculates network complexity for each VNF and establishes a migration sequence that distributes load evenly across VIMs in advance, avoiding the need to dynamically manage complex decomposed requests during migration execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by having the orchestration node act as a mediator between migration requests and VIMs. The orchestrator consolidates migration requests and manages the interaction with VIMs, preventing request decomposition and simplifying request management while maintaining load balance.
2Productivity
If all VNFs are migrated simultaneously to achieve faster migration, then migration speed is improved, but peak load on VIMs increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a dynamic migration order that adapts to the network complexity of different VNFs. Rather than simultaneous or fixed sequential migration, the system determines an optimized migration sequence based on network complexity metrics, allowing flexible load distribution across VIMs while maintaining efficient migration progress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by distributing VNF migration across multiple time periods rather than executing all migrations simultaneously. The migration process is divided into staged operations following the determined migration order, with each VNF migrated at an appropriate time to distribute load periodically across VIMs, avoiding peak load while maintaining overall migration efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms for migration in a communication network of VNFs to VIMs. A method is performed by a migration controller. The method includes obtaining information of network complexity per VNF, information of VM usage per VNF, and information of processing capacity of compute nodes per VIM. The method further includes determining a mapping between the VNFs and the VIMs. The mapping defines at which of the VIMs each of the VNFs is instantiable. The method further includes ordering the VNFs in a list by matching the information of network complexity per VNF and the information of VM usage per VNF to the information of processing capacity of compute nodes per VIM and taking into account the mapping between the VNFs and the VIMs. The method further includes initiating migration of the VNFs to the VIMs in the order defined by the list.