Technische Universitt Mnchen

Lehrstuhl fr Kommunikationsnetze
Prof. Dr.-Ing. W. Kellerer
A Virtual SDN-enabled LTE EPC Architecture:
a case study for S-/P-Gateways functions
15.November.2013
Treffen der VDE/ITG-Fachgruppe 5.2.4
Arsany Basta
Wolfgang Kellerer
Marco Hoffmann
Klaus Hoffmann
Ernst-Dieter Schmidt
Technische Universitt Mnchen, Germany
Nokia Solutions and Networks, Munich, Germany
2
Future network requirements?
Source: Marco Hoffmann, NSN
3
Why change the current EPC architecture?
Current EPC built out of monolithic entities on dedicated hardware
Inflexible and lacks dynamic deployment
Induces high cost to setup and maintain
4
How to change EPC architecture?
Network abstraction
and flexible dynamic
programmability
Enabler for cost, energy consumption and space reduction by
sharing, isolating and splitting of network functions [1]
Automated platform
for network functions
in software
[1] Network Operators, Network Functions Virtualization, SDN World Congress, Darmstadt, 2012
Cloud
Computing
5
What do NFV and SDN bring to the mobile core?
Availability of incremental functionality additions to the network
More flexibility in network management and control
More elasticity in adding or removing services
Optimizing network configuration and topology
Potential to reduce time to market
Potential for reducing energy consumption
Potential for a reduced capex and opex cost
NFV
SDN
SDN
NFV
+
SDN
NFV
+
6
EPC potential for virtualization?
Operators
Cloud
Virtual EPC Components
Data Traffic
eNodeB
Signaling
X2
HSS PCRF OCS
S5/S8
S1-
MME
MME
S10
S1-U
SGi
S6a
S7
Gy
Gx
IP PDN P-GW
S11
S4
S-GW SGSN
Transport Network
Migration to the operators cloud can start with control-plane EPC nodes
such as MME, HSS, PCRF, etc...
Focus of our study is the data-plane coupled EPC nodes: S-GW and P-GW
7
What are the study steps?
Decompose S-GW/P-GW functions
Deployment architectures:
decomposed functions between
cloud and transport network
SDN (OpenFlow1.3) realization
of derived functions
8
S-GW / P-GW ANALYSIS
9
S-GW and P-GW Analysis
Control
Signaling
Resources
Allocation
Logic
Data-plane Forwarding Rules
Data-plane Forwarding
GTP
Matching
Charging
Packet
Filtering
The roles of the S-GW and P-GW were observed in fundamental 3GPP
standard scenarios such as UE attach/detach, handover, TA update, etc ..
10
OPENFLOW REALIZATION OF
DERIVED FUNCTIONS
11
Control
Signalng
Resources
Allocation
Logic
Data-planeForwarding Rules
Data-plane Forwarding
GTP
Matching
Chargin
g
Packet
Filtering
Control-related functions can be
integrated in an SDN controller
Forwarding rules and data
forwarding are fundamental
functions of a basic OF switch
Packet filters (P-GW) can be
provided based on the IP-five
tuple [2] starting from OF 1.0
Charging (P-GW) and GTP header
matching (S-GW and P-GW) still
need further evaluation
[2] 3GPP TS 23.203, Policy and charging control architecture, 2010
OpenFlow Realization of Derived Functions
12
Charging (Offline and Online) Frameworks
Controller collect offline
CDRs based on OF stats
Optimize OF stats to match
different charging models
OF Switch OF Switch
OF Controller
OF Stats OF Stats
Offline
CDR
Data Traffic
a) Offline charging
Counters Counters
OF Switch OF Switch
OF Controller
OF Stats
Charging
Event
OF Stats
Event
trigger:
Update
Rules
Data Traffic
b) Online charging
Counters
Counters
Of switch keeps no data flow state
No charging events possible on switch
Controller keeps track of charging events
and update rules accordingly
13
GTP Matching Frameworks
D
a
t
a

t
r
a
f
f
i
c
a) Controller handling GTP matching b) Middlebox handling GTP matching
c) NE+ with customized HW d) NE+ with SW platform
Functions analysis
Deployment architectures
SDN (OF) realization
payload IP
GTP UDP IP
UE EPC
14
DECOMPOSED FUNCTIONS
DEPLOYMENT ARCHITECURES
15
Functions deployment possibilities?
1) Full Cloud Migration
limited by cloud domain
all data traffic to cloud
SDN is not fully exploited
+ noticeable cost savings
+ control-plane scalability
+ standard OF switch
16
Control
Signaling
Resources
Management
Logic
SDN API Data Traffic
SGSN
eNodeB
Signaling
SGW-c PGW-c
Operators
Cloud
NE+
X2
S5
S1-MME
MME
S10
S1-U
S4-c
U-Plane Fabric
U-Plane
Forwarding
Rules
Filtering
SGi
S4-c
Charging
GTP
Transport
Network
Controller
IP PDN
S11
Functions deployment possibilities?
2) Control-plane Cloud Migration
enhanced OF switch
data overhead between
cloud and transport
cost savings are reduced
+ control-plane scalability
+ data-plane scalability
+ on-demand data plane
17
Functions deployment possibilities?
3) Signaling control Cloud Migration
C
o
n
t
r
o
l
l
e
r
cloud migration is minimal
global network view is
not available anymore
+ less configuration delay
+ less data overhead
+ more resilient to
cloud outages
18
Functions deployment possibilities?
4) Scenario based Cloud Migration
state sync overhead
orchestration between
functions is needed
additional cost induced
+ possible offloading of certain
EPC operations or service types
+ highest scalability and flexibility
19
Conclusion
Study goals?
EPC analysis: decompose S-GW and P-GW functions
SDN capabilities to achieve the EPC functionalities
Alternative solutions to enhance OF network elements:
a) Controller-based processing
b) Middlebox-based processing
c) NE+ with HW customized functions
d) NE+ with a programmable SW extension
Deployment possibilities of the EPC nodes and functionalities
Four alternative deployment architectures, between cloud and transport network
Each architecture has its own advantages and limitations
20
S-/P-GW
cost
end-to-end
delay
data
overhead
S
i
g
n
a
l
i
n
g
M
a
n
a
g
e
m
e
n
t

L
o
g
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c
KPI
value
F
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r
i
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g
C
h
a
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i
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G
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/

U
-
P
l
a
n
e

R
u
l
e
s
/
F
a
b
r
i
c
no functions
at cloud
all functions
at cloud
Outlook
Performance evaluation and trade-offs:
Cost evaluation
Exchanged data overhead
Observed additional delays
Optimal functions splitting solution
considering performance
current EPC architecture Vs virtual SDN-enabled architectures
21
Thank you for your attention
Questions?
A.Basta, W. Kellerer, M. Hoffmann, K. Hoffmann, E.D. Schmidt, A Virtual SDN-enabled LTE EPC:
Architecture: a case study for S-/P-gateways functions, IEEE SDN4FNS, Trento, 2013
22
23
Functions deployment possibilities?
1) Full Cloud Migration
still very centralized
All data traffic to cloud
SDN is not fully exploited
+ noticeable cost savings
+ control-plane scalability
+ standard OF switch
Functions analysis
Deployment architectures
SDN (OF) realization
24
Functions deployment possibilities?
1) Full Cloud Migration
still very centralized
All data traffic to cloud
SDN is not fully exploited
+ noticeable cost savings
+ control-plane scalability
+ standard OF switch
Functions analysis
Deployment architectures
SDN (OF) realization
25
Functions deployment possibilities?
2) Control-plane Cloud Migration
enhanced OF switch
data overhead between
cloud and transport network
cost savings are reduced
+ control-plane flexibility
+ data-plane scalability
+ on-demand data plane resources
Functions analysis
Deployment architectures
SDN (OF) realization
26
Agenda
Motivation
Introduction
EPC Analysis: S-GW and P-GW Functions
SDN/OpenFlow Evaluation towards Derived Functions
Virtual SDN-enabled EPC Architectures
Conclusion and Outlook
27
What do NFV and SDN bring to the mobile core?
Availability of incremental functionality additions to the network
Add new virtualized functions or scale virtualized nodes
More flexibility in network management and control
Programmable central control of network elements
More elasticity in services scaling up/down
Scalable data-plane based on users or traffic volume
Optimizing network configuration and topology
Potential for reducing energy consumption
Potential for a reduced capex and opex cost
28
Potential for reducing energy consumption
Potential for a reduced capex and opex cost
Introduction
What do NFV and SDN bring?
Availability of incremental functionality additions to the network
More flexibility in network management and control
More elasticity in services scaling up/down
Optimizing network configuration and topology
29
EPC Analysis (backup)
Analysis of the S-/P-GW functionality
The roles of the S-GW and P-GW are analyzed based on fundamental LTE
scenarios or operations
EPC considered scenarios
UE attach/detach
S1-u bearer release in case of user inactivity
Service request default/dedicated bearer
Tracking Area update
Intra LTE Handover with/without X2 support
Handover from LTE to 2G/3G
[3gpp references]
30
EPC Analysis
S-GW and P-GW derived functions
Control
Signaling
Resources
Allocation
Logic
Data-plane Forwarding Rules
Data-plane Forwarding
GTP
Matching
Charging
Packet
Filtering
S-GW/P-GW
functions analysis
Deployment architectures for
the decomposed S-GW/P-GW
SDN (OpenFlow) realization
of derived functions
Functions analysis
Deployment architectures
SDN (OF) realization