Trial Evaluation

In this objective we will define a suitable Use Case and demonstrate the feasibility of the overall solution. The goal of the use case will be to integrate all the developments worked out throughout the project by modelling a multidomain, flexible SDN-based scenario where security services will be ensured end-to-end. The use case will gather all the topics analysed in the project and could consist on an end user willing to establish an on demand and secure communication, using a wired virtualized access network, which will traverse an evolved core network ending up in a wireless virtualized access network.

Scenario

Let’s define the following scenario: we have 3 SDN domains geographically separated (UPC, i2Cat, and UPV/EHU). These domains are the platforms that supports different developments worked out during the project, which includes development in wireless networks and optical networks. To integrate these domains, a solution is being validated on its capabilities to interconnect inter domain resources through an isolated and secured communication.

The solution being evaluated is VTN (Virtual Tenant Network), or more specifically the Opendaylight VTN solution, which in general terms, a virtual network can be defined from the entire physical infrastructure in order to interconnect the desired resources under the same virtual network. Depending of the needs and use cases, several virtual networks can be defined and operate over the same physical infrastructure. Inter domain resources can be isolated from other resources in a single VTN, and different users according to their level of accessibility can create VTNs and use resources from different locations.

This solution is comprised by 3 main components: VTN Application, Coordinator, and Manager. The VTN Manager is a module installed on each SDN controller managing the network, which accepts virtual network configurations from the VTN Coordinator, and translate them into flow rules that can establish the path of the virtual network over the physical infrastructure. The VTN coordinator is the centralized agent in which virtual networks are created on demand, and coordinate with the related SDN controllers to create the virtual network across the multi domain platform. The VTN Application, is an interface in which the user can interact with the coordinator using Restfull calls, configuring virtual networks on demand (In the case of this scenario, the interface is a web application built on top the VTN Coordinator).

The overall test scenario is a physical interconnection between the different SDN domains, in which the VTN solution is being tested and validated to identify further integration with the platform.