Enhancing Resource Sharing and Access Control for VNF Instantiation with Blockchain

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Network Engineering
• Distributed Systems

Background:

• Network Function Virtualization (NFV) enables software-based network functions (VNFs) on virtualized hardware.
• Service Function Chain (SFC) deployment involves complex VNF instantiation and resource management.
• Current VNF resource sharing models often fail to balance VNF instance and infrastructure provider interests.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel blockchain-based framework for VNF resource sharing and access control.
• To ensure profitability for both VNF instances and infrastructure providers during VNF instantiation.
• To enhance resource utilization and security in NFV environments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a resource sharing game model to optimize benefits.
• Introduction of a greedy matching algorithm for efficient resource allocation.
• Design of a blockchain-based access control mechanism for secure key storage and fine-grained control.

Main Results:

• The proposed game model and algorithm foster competition and effective bargaining between resource owners and infrastructure providers.
• Achieved up to an 8.1x performance improvement over standard Stackelberg game solutions with minimal sacrifice in social utility.
• Enhanced security and maintained excellent encryption/moderate decryption efficiency compared to other CP-ABE methods within a blockchain framework.

Conclusions:

• The blockchain framework effectively addresses resource sharing challenges in NFV.
• The proposed models and algorithms optimize economic benefits and resource utilization.
• The solution provides a secure, efficient, and profitable approach to VNF deployment and management.