IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,954,758
Granted Patent B2
US 9,954,758 · App. 15/046,219 · Granted Apr 24, 2018

Virtual network function resource allocation and management system

Inventors: Safina Devi N. (Tamil Nadu, IN); Balaji Venkat Venkataswami (TamilNadu, IN); Wenjing Chu (Saratoga, CA)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L43/16G06F9/455
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,954,758
App. No.
15/046,219
Filed
Feb 17, 2016
Granted
Apr 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2448
USPC
709/224
Abstract

A virtualized network function (VNF) provisioning system includes a plurality of computing device that are provided in a physical topology and that are coupled to a network. A management device is coupled to the computing device through the network. The management device receives VNF system information for a VNF system through the network. The VNF system includes a plurality of VNFs that are provided in a virtual topology. The management device then determines a plurality of physical groups from the physical topology that each identify at least one computing device. The management device then determines a plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology based on a ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and a number of VNFs in each virtual group. The management device then provides the VNFs in a first virtual group on the at least one computing device in a first physical group.

Claims (46)

1. A virtualized network function (VNF) provisioning system, comprising:

a plurality of computing device that are provided in a physical topology and that are coupled to a network; and

a management device that is coupled to the plurality of computing device through the network, wherein the management device is configured to:

receive virtualized network function (VNF) system information for a VNF system through the network, wherein the VNF system includes a plurality of VNFs that are provided in a virtual topology;

determine a plurality of physical groups from the physical topology, wherein each physical group identifies at least one computing device of the plurality of computing devices;

determine a plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology based on a ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and a number of VNFs in each virtual group; and

provide the VNFs in a first virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups on the at least one computing device in a first physical group of the plurality of physical groups.

2. The VNF provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the management device is configured to:

merge at least one of the VNFs in a second virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups with at least one of the VNFs in the first virtual group that is provided on the at least one computing device in the first physical group.

3. The VNF provisioning system of claim 2 , wherein the management device is configured to:

identify the first virtual group and the second virtual group for merging based on the first virtual group and the second virtual group including the same number of VNFs, and the determination that the traffic between the first virtual group and the second virtual group is below a threshold.

4. The VNF provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the determining the plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology includes determining the first virtual group and a second virtual group that exchange traffic via a single pair of VNFs.

5. The VNF provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the management device is configured to:

determine that a VNF in the first virtual group is no longer operating and, in response, update the plurality of physical groups and the plurality of virtual groups.

6. The VNF provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the first physical group identifies one of a single computing device of the plurality of computing devices and a subset of the plurality of computing devices that are provided in the same rack.

7. The VNF provisioning system of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and the number of VNFs in each virtual group provides a virtual group density for each of the plurality of virtual groups, and wherein the plurality of virtual groups are determined in response to having virtual group densities that are greater than a threshold.

8. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

a communication system and that is configured to couple to a plurality of computing systems;

a processing system that is coupled to the communication system; and

a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and that includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a virtualized network function (VNF) allocation engine that is configured to:

receive virtualized network function (VNF) system information for a VNF system, wherein the VNF system includes a plurality of VNFs that are provided in a virtual topology;

determine a plurality of physical groups from a physical topology of the plurality of computing devices, wherein each physical group identifies at least one computing device of the plurality of computing devices;

determine a plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology based on a ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and a number of VNFs in each virtual group; and

provide the VNFs in a first virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups on the at least one computing device in a first physical group of the plurality of physical groups.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the VNF allocation engine is configured to:

merge at least one of the VNFs in a second virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups with at least one of the VNFs in the first virtual group that is provided on the at least one computing device in the first physical group.

10. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the VNF allocation engine is configured to:

identify the first virtual group and the second virtual group for merging based on the first virtual group and the second virtual group including the same number of VNFs, and the determination that the traffic between the first virtual group and the second virtual group is below a threshold.

11. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the determining the plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology includes determining the first virtual group and a second virtual group that exchange traffic via a single pair of VNFs.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the VNF allocation engine is configured to:

determine that a VNF in the first virtual group is no longer operating and, in response, update the plurality of physical groups and the plurality of virtual groups.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and the number of VNFs in each virtual group provides a virtual group density for each of the plurality of virtual groups, and wherein the plurality of virtual groups are determined in response to having virtual group densities that are greater than a threshold.

14. A method for provisioning virtualized network functions, comprising:

receiving, by a management device, virtualized network function (VNF) system information for a VNF system, wherein the VNF system includes a plurality of VNFs that are provided in a virtual topology;

determining, by the management device, a plurality of physical groups from a physical topology of a plurality of computing devices, wherein each physical group identifies at least one computing device of the plurality of computing devices;

determining, by the management device, a plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology based on a ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and a number of VNFs in each virtual group; and

providing, by the management device on the at least one computing device in a first physical group of the plurality of physical groups, the VNFs in a first virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

merging, by the management device, at least one of the VNFs in a second virtual group of the plurality of virtual groups with at least one of the VNFs in the first virtual group that is provided on the at least one computing device in the first physical group.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

identifying, by the management device, the first virtual group and the second virtual group for merging based on the first virtual group and the second virtual group including the same number of VNFs, and the determination that the traffic between the first virtual group and the second virtual group is below a threshold.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining the plurality of virtual groups from the virtual topology includes determining the first virtual group and a second virtual group that exchange traffic via a single pair of VNFs.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining, by the management device, that a VNF in the first virtual group is no longer operating and, in response, update the plurality of physical groups and the plurality of virtual groups.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first physical group identifies one of a single computing device of the plurality of computing devices and a subset of the plurality of computing devices that are provided in the same rack.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the ratio of traffic that will leave each virtual group and the number of VNFs in each virtual group provides a virtual group density for each of the plurality of virtual groups, and wherein the plurality of virtual groups are determined in response to having virtual group densities that are greater than a threshold.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038664 FRAME 0908 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0390 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0041 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0375 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0001 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040021/0348 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038664/0908 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038665/0041 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038665/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2016
From: N., SAFINA DEVI; VENKATASWAMI, BALAJI VENKAT; CHU, WENJING
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 037757/0731 →
Continuity (1)
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