Toward Network Slicing Enabled Edge Computing: A Cloud-Native Approach
for Slice Mobility
Abstract
Network slicing is a key enabler for 5G and beyond networks that permits
operators to provide scalable, flexible, and dedicated networks over a
common physical infrastructure. To cope with the rising demand for
Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) in beyond 5G
networks, the provision of dedicated secure networks closer to the users
is essential. Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) is a promising
technology that provides data and computational resources closer to
mobile users. However, MEC servers are resource-constrained, and
offering dedicated service-specific network slices at the edge in a
highly dynamic and mobile environment is challenging. Network slicing
and MEC are being evolved by two different standardization bodies that
limit their integration and raise mobility challenges that deserve more
attention. We propose a cloud-native microservices architecture for
network slice mobility management in MEC that permits each MEC slice to
be distributed as stateless and independently deployable microservices.
The proposal separates the MEC slice operational data and the user
context, as each network function in an MEC slice stores the context in
a separate shared database. The proposed architecture leverages new SDN
extended federation modules in compliance with the ETSI requirements for
inter-MEC system coordination. The federation modules support a more
flexible and scalable creation of network slices at MEC servers,
efficient resource utilization, and mobility of network slices across
MEC servers. The simulation results show that our proposed architecture
outperforms the existing SDN-based approaches for network slicing in MEC
by achieving high slice acceptance rates and reduced slice migration
delay.