Efficient Agent-Based Selection of DiffServ SLAs over MPLS Networks Within the ASP Service Model

Abstract

The demand for QoS provisioning support over Internet grows continuously. One of the factors contributing to this demand is the increasing penetration of Application Service Providers (ASPs) to the market. This necessitates the development of mechanisms for the efficient realization of Service Level Agreements (SLA). In this paper, we develop and evaluate an approach for efficient SLA selection and implementation (support, policing/shaping, and charging) in a DiffServ-over-MPLS network domain. We describe how this approach is applied in a realistic service provision scenario based on the ASP service model. A negotiation process between a user and a network provider is introduced; thus the user can choose from the alternative options for allocation of resources the one that better matches his needs. For the purposes of negotiation, we develop an appropriate utility model that expresses user preferences in a simple yet informative way. Furthermore, we discuss the implementation of our approach in a small-scale experimental DiffServ-over-MPLS network, for the case of a simple scenario of ASP services provision. We also assess the economic efficiency of our approach by means of simulation experiments, the results of which advocate that our approach is incentive compatible, in the sense that individual optimization by each user (in SLA selection) also leads to improved social welfare. Our approach is quite general and can be combined with several policies for network management, or as a complement to the traffic engineering procedures.