Huawei Technologies Canada Co., Ltd.

Huawei Technologies Co., Limited

Reaz Ahmed

Jeebak Mitra

Raouf Boutaba

Nashid Shahriar

Shihabur Rahman Chowdhury

Sara Ayoubi

Aimal Khan

Shihabur Chowdhury

Some aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide effective mechanisms for provisioning virtual networks on communication networks. In particular some aspects and embodiments provide an effective mechanism for embedding a virtual network into a multi-layered substrate network which utilizes a different communication technology at each layer. One such example is an IP network overlaid over an optical network, such as an OTN network. Embodiments jointly determine the assignment of virtual nodes and virtual links. Assigning the nodes and links together can provide for a more optimal solution than assigning the nodes and the links separately. Some embodiments generate a collapsed graph which includes the optical network and the IP network in a single layer. Accordingly some embodiments jointly determine the assignment of virtual nodes and virtual links within such a collapsed graph, which can provide more optimal assignments than considering assignments within each layer separately. In some embodiments, generating a collapsed graph includes allocating residual capacity to each link of the collapsed graph; and allocating a cost for each link of the collapsed graph. In some embodiments, allocating a cost for each link includes allocating a higher cost to optical links than to IP links. In some cases, allocating the higher costs can discourage the creation of new links unless they are needed or are beneficial (e.g. creating new links improves the overall cost/efficiency). Some embodiments utilize a heuristic method for solving an optimization function for the placement of virtual nodes and links.

Multi-layer virtual network embedding

Network Virtualization can be used to map a virtual network (VN) on a substrate network (SN) while accounting for possible substrate failures, known as the Survivable Virtual Network Embedding (SVNE) problem. The VN can be equipped with sufficient spare backup capacity to sustain the Quality of Service during substrate failures, and the resulting VN may be equipped accordingly. The present application discloses jointly optimizing spare backup capacity allocation and embedding a VN to provide full bandwidth in the presence of a single substrate link failure. A solution may be formulated as a Quadratic Integer Program that can be further transformed into an Integer Linear Program, or as a heuristic.

System and method for joint embedding and backup provisioning in virtual networks

A method for failure recovery in a virtual network environment including a virtual network having virtual nodes and virtual links mapped onto substrate nodes and substrate paths, respectively, of a substrate network, the method comprising, in response to an indication of failure of at least one substrate node in the substrate network: re-mapping a virtual node mapped to a failed substrate node to a selected substrate node other than the failed substrate node; and re-mapping a virtual link mapped to a substrate path that involves the failed substrate node to a substrate path that does not involve the failed substrate node; wherein the re-mapping is carried out to achieve at least one re-mapping objective.

Methods and systems for failure recovery in a virtual network environment

Techniques for virtual network embedding (VNE) with dedicated protection of multiple virtual networks against a single node or link failure are described. The virtual network embedding provides dedicated protection without using redundant substrate network resources for each of the individual virtual networks (VNs) elements.

Dedicated protection for virtual network embedding

Embedding a virtual network onto a physical network may be done in such a manner to ensure that the embedded virtual network maintains connectivity in the event of failure of k links in the physical network. The embedding determines virtual links that must be embedded onto disjoint paths in the physical network and then embeds the virtual network according to ensure the determined virtual links are embedded on disjoint paths.

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Waterloo, Canada

Reaz Ahmed