Service Function Chaining Implementation using VNFs and CNFs

The increasing popularity of cloud-based platforms has led to the emergence of two prominent open-source solutions: OpenStack and Kubernetes. OpenStack facilitates computing and networking resources through virtual machine instances, while Kubernetes excels in container orchestration, managing containerized workloads and services. This paper explores the implementation of Service Function Chaining (SFC) using a combination of virtual machines in OpenStack and containers in Kubernetes. The primary focus of our study is to analyze the performance of containers within the context of chain deployment in Kubernetes. Our experimentation reveals compelling insights into container bootup times, showcasing their efficiency when compared to virtual machines. Additionally, we meticulously evaluate the impact of integrating SFC-related interfaces into pods forming a chain, particularly assessing CPU, memory, and bandwidth utilization. Our findings underline the advantages of utilizing containers in SFC deployment scenarios and shed light on the potential overhead that arises during interface integration.