Validating Inter-domain SLAs with a Programmable Traffic Control System

For network users and service providers it is important to validate the compliance of network services to the guarantees given in Service Level Agreements (SLAs). This is particularly challenging in inter-domain environments. In this paper, we propose a novel solution for inter-domain SLA validation, based on programmable traffic processing devices that are attached to routers and located in several autonomous systems. Using our service management infrastructure, the measurement logic is deployed on the traffic processing devices in a flexible and secure way. We safely delegate partial network management capability from network operators to network users, which are enabled to configure service logic on the traffic processing devices. At the same time, the management infrastructure guarantees against negative influence of the network user’s configuration on network stability or other user’s traffic. Via the flexible configuration of service logic, our system gives network users powerful means to observe quality of service parameters agreed upon in SLAs. We present a detailed scenario of the SLA validation service and its deployment across several administrative domains.