Cloud networking: An infrastructure service architecture for the wide area

We present an architecture for cloud networking, the provision of virtual infrastructure in a multi-administrative domain scenario, where data centre and network operators interact through defined interfaces to provide seamless virtual infrastructure. To support this scenario we introduce the flash network slice, dynamic elastic network connections that compose to form integrated cross-domain networks. Flash network slices support decomposition of virtual infrastructure into partitions that can be managed independently but seamlessly interconnected across administrative boundaries. The approach supports limited information disclosure about implementation details on behalf of the providers, scalability, heterogeneity, and a migration path from currently deployed infrastructure technologies to future network implementations. The resulting infrastructure services are suited to on-demand deployment of emerging cloud services such as content distribution, social networks and cloud-based IT applications.