Joint Orchestration of Cloud-Based Microservices and Virtual Network Functions

TL;DR

This paper proposes a unified management and orchestration framework for integrating microservices and virtual network functions in multi-cloud environments to improve service quality and cost efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach for joint orchestration of microservices and VNFs, addressing limitations of existing multi-cloud solutions.

Findings

Enhanced service quality through integrated orchestration

Cost optimization in complex NFV/cloud services

Feasibility demonstrated through experimental validation

Abstract

Recent studies show the increasing popularity of distributed cloud applications, which are composed of multiple microservices. Besides their known benefits, microservice architecture also enables to mix and match cloud applications and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) services (service chains), which are composed of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). Provisioning complex services containing VNFs and microservices in a combined NFV/cloud platform can enhance service quality and optimise cost. Such a platform can be based on the multi-cloud concept. However, current multi-cloud solutions do not support NFV requirements, making them inadequate to support complex services. In this paper, we investigate these challenges and propose a solution for jointly managing and orchestrating microservices and virtual network functions.