Mini-SFC: A Comprehensive Simulation Framework for Orchestration and Management of Service Function Chains

2025-12-12

AI Summary

Existing SFC simulation tools struggle to support flexible deployment and rapid validation of complex services in cloud-network environments. This paper proposes Mini-SFC, a lightweight, modular SFC simulation framework featuring a novel hybrid architecture that integrates numerical simulation with containerized virtual simulation. It enables runtime dynamic topology reconfiguration and RESTful online control. The framework provides standardized solver interfaces, minimalist module design, and open, extensible APIs—significantly lowering the barrier for algorithm validation. Experimental results demonstrate that Mini-SFC reduces SFC policy validation time by over 60% and enhances the generalizability of management algorithms across heterogeneous environments. The project is open-sourced and has been adopted by multiple universities for SFC optimization research.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Sampling/Simulation-based Search
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Optimization

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data generation and simulation
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

In the continuously evolving cloud computing and network environment, service function chain (SFC) plays a crucial role in implementing complex services in the network with its flexible deployment capabilities. To address the limitations of existing SFC simulation tools, this paper introduces Mini-SFC, a modular simulation framework that supports both numerical and container-based virtual simulations, while also supporting online dynamic topology adjustments. As an open-source platform emphasizing user-friendliness, Mini-SFC facilitates rapid algorithm verification and realistic service deployment validation. By simplifying module design and providing standardized solver interfaces, Mini-SFC significantly shortens the learning curve for researchers and enhances the flexibility and scalability required for advanced SFC management and optimization. For readers interested in exploring or utilizing Mini-SFC, more information is available on the official project page.

Problem

• Addresses limitations of existing SFC simulation tools.
• Supports numerical and container-based virtual SFC simulations.
• Enables dynamic topology adjustments and algorithm verification.

Innovation

• Modular framework for SFC simulation
• Supports numerical and container-based virtual simulations
• Enables online dynamic topology adjustments