Study about network function virtualization and develop a simple NFV center on web browser

Abstract

The distribution of network protocols which operates inside every router and switch is the highlighted technology that allows information (packets in digital form) to travel around the globe. Regardless of their widespread adoption, original IP networks are considerably complex and hard to manage [1]. To illustrate the desired high-level network policies, network operators need to separately configure each individual network device by using low-level and often vendor-specific commands. Along with the configuration complexity, network environments also endure the varieties of faults which could be prone to be exploited by hackers. Auto-reconfiguration and response mechanisms are virtually non-existent in current IP networks. This leads to enforcing the required policies in such a dynamic environment is of great challenge. As such, Software-Defined Network (SDN) comes as an architecture that can be an economic solution for service providers and companies by reducing provisioning time from weeks to minutes, providing centralized management, allowing programmability and promoting innovation. SDN achieves this by separating the two features inside routers/switches, namely the control plane from the data plane. The thesis will introduce the concept of SDN, NFV and related terminologies as well as the technical background of what will be the part of the implementation of GUI web browser (Flask framework, Ryu controller, OpenvSwitch, Mininet). The GUI web browser can emulate a network topology with simple switches and links and also act as a management center to query commands from Ryu network application using REST API in order to monitor changes in network traffic.