Multi-controller Scalability in Multi-domain Content Aware Networks Management

This paper studies the management system scalability properties of a networked media eco-system. The system offers guaranteed Quality of Services (QoS) multimedia delivery, over multiple domain networks, based on creation of data plane slices named Virtual Content Aware Networks (VCAN). The VCANs are realized under control of a management plane, by centralized per network domain "controllers" - cooperating in order to span the VCANs over multiple IP domains. Scalability is an issue- similar to the multi-controller problem, in emerging Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies. The management system architecture considered in this paper has been previously defined. This work provides a simulation model and results concerning the multi-controller communications. It is shown that SDN-like control approach is conveniently feasible in a multi-domain environment.