Network Functions Evaluation of Hardware Accelerated NFV Platform in View of 5G Requirements

摘要

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) enables the implementation of "softwarized" network functions, using a shared hardware substrate. However, such functions are expected to offer performances comparable to native hardware environments. Therefore, increasing the performance of "software-based" Network Functions (NFs) that are executed on commodity hardware servers is an emerging challenge that should be addressed to fulfill the vision of NFV. Hardware accelerators, such as Many Integrated Core Architectures (MICs), Graphic Processor Units (GPUs) and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are a valuable asset that can be paired with commodity servers to boost up network services performance. In this paper, we present an analysis of two commonplace network functions: a) Routing, b) Firewall and evaluate their implementation in an NFV middlebox combining software based network functions along with hardware accelerated ones in view of their applicability for 5G and interworking with Broadband Forum (BBF) network segments. Finally, we present detailed experimental results of CPU, GPU and FPGA solutions for these functions (routing, firewall and DPI) in order to evaluate their performance and verify their suitability for incorporation in hardware-accelerated NFV platforms.