Provisioning of network services based on virtual network function performance characteristics

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor and comprising computer readable program code embodied in the memory that is executable by the processor to perform:
• receiving a selection of a network service;
• determining a plurality of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and a plurality of Virtual Machines (VMs) based on the selection of the network service, the plurality of VNFs being configured to run on the plurality of VMs;
• generating a plurality of tuples, each of the plurality of tuples corresponding to a combination of one of the plurality of VNFs and one of the plurality of VMs where the one of the plurality of VNFs is configured to run on the one of the plurality of VMs;
• receiving a plurality of VNF performance parameters;
• estimating values for each of the plurality of VNF performance parameters for each of the plurality of tuples, respectively, wherein:
• estimation of a first value of one of the VNF performance parameters is based on past performance data of the selected network service being provisioned on a VM corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when a VNF corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples is not being run on the VM;
• and
• estimation of a second value of one of the VNF performance parameters is based on past performance data of the selected network service being provisioned on one of:
• a VNF corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when the VNF is being run on a VM corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples;
• and
• a VNF corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when the VNF is not being run on a VM corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples;
• processing the values for each of the plurality of VNF performance parameters to generate a plurality of scores for the plurality of tuples, respectively;
• generating a plurality of VNF Forwarding Graphs (FGs), each of the VNF FGs corresponding to a combination of ones of the plurality of tuples that support the network service;
• generating a plurality of first grade scores for the plurality of VNF FGs, respectively, based on the plurality of scores for the plurality of tuples;
• receiving a plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters;
• estimating values for each of the plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters for each of the plurality of VNF FGs;
• processing the values for each of the plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters to generate a plurality of edge performance scores for the plurality of VNF FGs;
• generating a plurality of second grade scores for the plurality of VNF FGs, respectively, based on the plurality of first grade scores and the plurality of edge performance scores;
• and
• provisioning the network service on one of the plurality of VNF FGs based on the plurality of second grade scores.

A computer program product comprising:

• a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied in the medium that is executable by a processor to perform:
• receiving a selection of a network service;
• determining a plurality of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and a plurality of Virtual Machines (VMs) based on the selection of the network service, the plurality of VNFs being configured to run on the plurality of VMs;
• generating a plurality of tuples, each of the plurality of tuples corresponding to a combination of one of the plurality of VNFs and one of the plurality of VMs where the one of the plurality of VNFs is configured to run on the one of the plurality of VMs;
• receiving a plurality of VNF performance parameters;
• estimating values for each of the plurality of VNF performance parameters for each of the plurality of tuples, respectively, wherein:
• estimation of a first value of one of the VNF performance parameters is based on past performance data of the selected network service being provisioned on a VM corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when a VNF corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples is not being run on the VM;
• and
• estimation of a second value of one of the VNF performance parameters is based on past performance data of the selected network service being provisioned on one of:
• a VNF corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when the VNF is being run on a VM corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples;
• and
• a VNF corresponding to one of the plurality of tuples when the VNF is not being run on a VM corresponding to the same one of the plurality of tuples;
• processing the values for each of the plurality of VNF performance parameters to generate a plurality of scores for the plurality of tuples, respectively;
• generating a plurality of VNF Forwarding Graphs (FGs), each of the VNF FGs corresponding to a combination of ones of the plurality of tuples that support the network service;
• generating a plurality of first grade scores for the plurality of VNF FGs, respectively, based on the plurality of scores for the plurality of tuples;
• receiving a plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters;
• estimating values for each of the plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters for each of the plurality of VNF FGs;
• processing the values for each of the plurality of VNF FG edge performance parameters to generate a plurality of edge performance scores for the plurality of VNF FGs;
• generating a plurality of second grade scores for the plurality of VNF FGs, respectively, based on the plurality of edge performance scores and the plurality of first grade scores;
• and
• provisioning the network service on one of the plurality of VNF FGs based on the plurality of second grade scores.