VIBox - Virtualized Internets-in-a-box: A tool for network planning experimentation

The simplistic design of the original Internet is being slowly replaced by the presence of advanced middleboxes that are introduced in the network. While some of these middleboxes are transparent and passively monitor the network, others can directly affect the data traffic (e.g., content accelerators). Forecasting user and middlebox traffic patterns are usually done through oversimplified models and sometimes unrealistic assumptions. In this context, network planning and dimensioning has become a complicated and sophisticated task. Even though virtualization technology today allows one to build experimental networks that can aid the task of network planning, this is hindered by lack of adequate functions in existing virtualization platforms. Amongst those functions are the support for refined network configurations and modification of software and operating system configurations running inside a virtual machine. In this paper we present VIBox, a tool for network planning experimentation that aims at creating virtual networks in a simple and user-friendly way.