A Queuing Based Dynamic Auto Scaling Algorithm for the LTE EPC Control Plane

The network softwarization paradigm, enabled by Network Function Virtualization (NFV), facilitates the automation of management operations and orchestration of future networks, thus reducing their operational expenditures. The envisioned management practices include the introduction of automation in the scaling of network services. This may enable operators to handle workload fluctuations, to keep the desired performance, with great agility and reduced costs. This procedure introduces a non-negligible delay in allocating or releasing virtual resources. Therefore, waiting until the system is overloaded or underutilized so as to scale resources up or down could negatively impact the users' Quality of Experience, or lead to inefficient resource utilization. In this vein, this paper proposes a novel and agile Dynamic Auto Scaling Algorithm for the Control Plane (CP) of the Long Term Evolution' (LTE) virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC). The resources dimensioning stage of the algorithm is based on an original queuing model for the CP. To model the CP, we use an open network of G/G/m queues. We also provide expressions to derive the steady state transition probabilities of the queuing network. Finally, we validate the proper operation of our solution using accurate simulation tools.