A Serverless Computing Platform for Software Defined Networks

Recent advances in network management strategies, namely the possibility of network programmability through the use of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) increase the velocity of network evolutions. SDN promises a software-based networking approach, where software modules are used to abstract network functionalities. To achieve this aim, the virtualization paradigm can be used in these modules within the context of Network Function Virtualisation (NFV). NFV plays the most important role in transition toward open software and network hardware. Given the promise of these technologies, micro-services can greatly benefit from the integration of SDN and NFV and execute in a suitable cloud platform. This paper describes a modular, and micro-service based SDN architecture that applies network programmability within the context of NFV and explores how it could benefit from the serverless computing paradigm. Serverless computing accompanies modular SDN in building cost-effective, energy-aware, and scalable networks, relieving the management burden of network maintenance.