IllumiCore: Optimization Modeling and Implementation for Efficient VNF Placement

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) enables telecommunication operators to place and allocate resources dynamically to address the needs of Internet of Things (IoT), Intelligent Edge Computing (IEC) and emerging 5G services in a highly efficient manner. The efficient Virtual Network Function (VNF) placement and deployment largely depend on optimizing Virtual Machines (VM) compute, storage, and network resource allocation in the cloud-based platforms and their physical hosts. This research further extends our previously defined Information Model of mapped NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) and Virtualized Infrastructure Management (VIM) resources to derive VNF's placement and optimal resource allocation. Our optimization solution IllumiCore derives the VNF's optimal placement and minimizes the communication latency among VMs that are part of the VNF and entire communication network. The results demonstrate optimal and improved VNF placement and resource management.