Congestion avoidance in a slice-based network
A system can reduce congestion in slice-based networks, such as a virtual service network (“VSN”). The system can include a monitoring module that communicates with agents on switches, such as routers or servers. The switches report telematics data to the monitoring module, which determines slice-specific performance attributes such as slice latency and slice throughput. These slice-specific performance attributes are compared against software license agreement (“SLA”) requirements. When the SLA is not met, the monitoring module can implement a new slice path for the slice to reduce the congestion.
1. A method for avoiding congestion in a slice-based network, comprising:
receiving data from multiple switches for a plurality of slices;
determining, based on the data from at least first and second switches, that a service level agreement (“SLA”) is not met for a slice that uses the first and second switches;
selecting an alternate slice path for the slice, the alternate path including a third switch that is not in the existing path for the slice; and
dynamically implementing the alternate slice path, including:
after selecting the alternate slice path, instantiating a virtual network function on the third switch for use with the slice; and
causing the first switch to send traffic for the slice to the third switch instead of the second switch.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is sent from agents installed at the switches to a remote monitoring module that selects the alternate slice path.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes latency, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a latency requirement of the SLA is not met.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes throughput, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a throughput requirement of the SLA is not met.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the agent to the multiple switches for execution, the agent determining the data by analyzing packets in the physical layer of the switch.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing throughput information from fewer that all of the switches in the original slice path to determine slice throughput.
7. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform stages for avoiding congestion in a slice-based network, the stages comprising:
receiving data from multiple switches for a plurality of slices;
determining, based on the data from at least first and second switches, that a service level agreement (“SLA”) is not met for a slice that uses the first and second switches;
selecting an alternate slice path for the slice, the alternate path including a third switch that is not in the existing path for the slice; and
dynamically implementing the alternate slice path, including:
after selecting the alternate slice path, instantiating a virtual network function on the third switch for use with the slice; and
causing the first switch to send traffic for the slice to the third switch instead of the second switch.
8. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the data is sent from agents installed at the switches to a remote monitoring module that selects the alternate slice path.
9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the data includes latency, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a latency requirement of the SLA is not met.
10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the data includes throughput, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a throughput requirement of the SLA is not met.
11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , the stages further comprising:
sending the agent to the multiple switches for execution, the agent determining the data by analyzing packets in the physical layer of the switch.
12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , the stages further comprising utilizing throughput information from fewer that all of the switches in the original slice path to determine slice throughput.
13. A system for avoiding congestion in a slice-based network, comprising:
a non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions for a monitoring module; and
a processor that executes the monitoring module to perform stages comprising:
receiving data from multiple switches for a plurality of slices;
determining, based on the data from at least first and second switches, that a service level agreement (“SLA”) is not met for a slice that uses the first and second switches;
selecting an alternate slice path for the slice, the alternate path including a third switch that is not in the existing path for the slice; and
dynamically implementing the alternate slice path, including;
after selecting the alternate slice path, instantiating a virtual network function on the third switch for use with the slice; and
causing the first switch to send traffic for the slice to the third switch instead of the second switch.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data is sent from agents installed at the switches to a remote monitoring module that selects the alternate slice path.
15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data includes latency, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a latency requirement of the SLA is not met.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data includes throughput, and wherein the alternate slice path is selected based on a monitoring module determining a throughput requirement of the SLA is not met.
17. The system of claim 13 , the stages further comprising:
sending the agent to the multiple switches for execution, the agent determining the data by analyzing packets in the physical layer of the switch.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises telematics data.
19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the data comprises telematics data.
20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data comprises telematics data.