Topics: Network Function Virtualization
Authors: Steff en Gebert, Thomas Zinner, Stanislav Lange, Christian Schwartz and Phuoc Tran-Gia (University of Wuerzburg, Germany)
Presenter Bio: Steffen Gebert received Diploma in Computer Science by the University of Würzburg, Germany in 2011 and afterwards started PhD at the chair of Prof. Phuoc Tran-Gia at the University of Würzburg, Germany. His current research interests include: Planning of traditional multi-layer networks; Software-Defined Networking; Cloud networks and orchestration; Trade-off between hardware and software for network functions (NFV); Bringing software development paradigms into the network world
Abstract: The softwarization of networks promises cost savings and better
scalability of network functions by moving functionality from
specialized devices into commercial-off-the-shelf hardware. Generalized
computing hardware offers many degrees for adjustment and tuning, which
can affect performance and resource utilization. One of these
adjustments are the interrupt mitigation techniques implemented by
modern network interface cards and operating systems. By this, an
administrator can optimize either lower latencies or lower CPU overhead
for processing of network traffic. In this work, an analytical model
allowing the computation of relevant performance metrics like the packet
processing time and the packet loss for generic virtualized network
functions running on commodity hardware is introduced. The applicability
of the model is shown by comparing its outcome with measurements
conducted in a local testbed. Based on this model, impact factors like
the average packet interarrival time, the interarrival time
distribution, and the duration of the interrupt aggregation interval are
studied.
