Service Function Chaining via SR-MPLS over P4: A Rudimentary Analysis
2024 International Conference on Intelligent Computing, Communication, Networking and Services (ICCNS 2024): Proceedings 2024
Mārtiņš Mihaeljans, Andris Skrastiņš, Jurģis Poriņš

This study is a rudimentary analysis of segment routing with MPLS (SR-MPLS) use case for service function chaining (SFC) on protocol-independent switch architecture (PISA). Segment routing is a packet forwarding method that leverages both source routing and packet encapsulation. SFC is packet steering through ordered service function (SF) path technique where SFs are firewall, deep packet inspection, network address translation, etc. Goal of this study is to investigate the service function chaining domain use case scenario for PISA data plane incorporating SR-MPLS as transport. We developed program code for SFC domain elements in a programmable protocol independent packet processing (P4) and python languages. The outcome of this study is functionating SFC domain emulation in Mininet environment. Emulation results shows that SR-MPLS makes minimal overhead for all emulated SF paths in generalized proportion of approximately 1/1000 from overall transmission rate. Results also reveal a minimalistic transmission rate dependency on path length in generalized proportion of approximately 1/40 of transmission rate drop between shorter and longer SF paths. It’s evident that SR-MPLS is fit to be used for SFC on PISA switches.


Keywords
Intent-based networking, Programmable protocol-independent packet processing, Software defined networking, Service function chaining, Segment Routing with MPLS
DOI
10.1109/ICCNS62192.2024.10776149
Hyperlink
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/conhome/10774579/proceeding

Mihaeljans, M., Skrastiņš, A., Poriņš, J. Service Function Chaining via SR-MPLS over P4: A Rudimentary Analysis. In: 2024 International Conference on Intelligent Computing, Communication, Networking and Services (ICCNS 2024): Proceedings, Croatia, Dubrovnik, 24-27 September, 2024. Piscataway: IEEE, 2024, pp.1-8. ISBN 979-8-3503-5470-6. e-ISBN 979-8-3503-5469-0. Available from: doi:10.1109/ICCNS62192.2024.10776149

Publication language
English (en)
The Scientific Library of the Riga Technical University.
E-mail: uzzinas@rtu.lv; Phone: +371 28399196