CASTOR: a monitoring and data analytics architecture to support autonomic domain and slice networking

Network slices combine resource virtualization with the isolation level required by future 5G applications. In addition, the use of Monitoring and Data Analytics (MDA) helps to maintain the required network performance, while reducing total cost of ownership. In this paper, we present CASTOR, an architecture to enable autonomic domain and slice networking. MDA agents use data analytics to make local decisions close to network devices, whereas MDA controllers collate and export metered data transparently to customer controllers, all of them leveraging customizable and isolated data analytics processes. Discovered knowledge can be applied for both proactive and reactive network slice reconfiguration, triggered either by service providers or customers, thanks to the interaction with state-of-the-art software-defined networking controllers and planning tools. © 2018 IEEE.