Service description in the NFV revolution: Trends, challenges and a way
forward
Abstract:
The telecommunications landscape has been undergoing a major shift in recent
years. Initially Software Defined Networking (SDN), and then Network Function
Virtualization (NFV) have opened up new ways of looking at the increasingly
demanding service provider scenario. The description of the service to be
provided will be a key point determining the success in the integration and
interoperability of the different proposals. However, the refined understanding of
the future scenario and its requirements has recently introduced unique
challenges in the path to fully achieve the benefits of the NFV vision. In this paper
we review the proposals of service description in the main initiatives related to
the NFV arena. Then we elaborate on key novel challenges and evaluate how the
different proposals solve them. Finally, we propose a straw man model of service
and resource description addressing these challenges and defining the features
that would serve as design directions for future initiatives and updates in this
topic.