I am / was involved in the following projects:
Experimenting with SDN-based Adaptable Non-IP Protocol Stacks in Smart-City Environments (REWIRE)
H2020 FED4FIRE+ Open Call Project
2021-2022
Challenging, dynamic network conditions of Smart-Cities can be addressed with a multi-protocol solution that deploys and configures on-demand the most appropriate protocol strategy to each node. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is ideal to provide the missing features of intelligent centralized control and programmability. Here, we target systematic experiments with the REWIRE platform, a relevant SDN-based management solution that improves the adaptability of our previous multi-protocol endeavours, tackling reliability and scalability issues associated with real Smart-City network conditions and IoT application patterns.
We utilize existing SDN control and monitoring features, containerized implementations of Non-IP protocol stacks and anomaly detection mechanisms, as well as the novel Fed4FIRE+ test-beds, enabling realistic Smart-City based experimentation. We plan to deliver: i) a documented open-source version of the above SDN-based solution along with deployment and configuration automations to be implemented for conducting experiments on Fed4FIRE+ testbeds; ii) a relevant demonstration over a federation of w-iLab.t and CityLab test-beds, as well as real data measurements from SmartSantander; iii) experimentation results validating the performance advantages of our solution; and iv) the implementation of concrete open-data management, dissemination & impact plans.
Novel Enablers for Cloud Slicing (NECOS)
H2020 EU-Brazil Collaborative Call Project
2017-2019
The NECOS project addresses the limitations of current cloud computing infrastructures to respond to the demand of new services, as presented in two use-cases, that will drive the whole execution of the project. The first use-case is Telco service provider focused and is oriented towards the adoption of cloud computing in their large networks. The second use-case is targeting the use of edge clouds to support devices with low computation and storage capacity. The envisaged solution is based on a new concept “Lightweight Slice Defined Cloud (LSDC)” as an approach that extends the virtualization to all the resources in the involved networks and data centers and provides a uniform management with a high-level of orchestration.
Unikernel-based CDNs for 5G Networks (UNIC)
H2020 FED4FIRE+ Open Call Project
2019
The exponential growth of Internet content, in size, quantity and network traffic demands, enabled new network architectures realizing efficient hosting, discovery and dissemination of content, such as the Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). CDNs are usually based on large data centers, proprietary software and may not be responsive enough to dynamic changes in network conditions and user requirements. Such an approach is becoming inefficient for 5G networks targeting ultra-low latency services through lightweight edge clouds that host (or cache) the content near the end-users.
Along these lines, we propose a novel CDN paradigm utilizing lightweight Unikernel-based Virtual Machines (VMs), under which limited-content web servers hosted on Unikernel VM’s boot rapidly and on-demand, serve users’ requests and then shutdown. FED4FIRE is the ideal experimentation environment to conduct such research, since it provides all the aspects we are missing (i.e., scalability, heterogeneity of physical / virtual resources and low barrier of experimentation difficulty).
Multi-homing with Ephemeral Clouds on the Move (MEC)
H2020 MONROE Open Call Project
2017-2018
A main research challenge in 5G Networks is an efficient synergy of the mobile network edge with nearby cloud deployments that achieves ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, while enabling innovative applications. However, in high-mobility environments is not easy to deploy traditional clouds nearby. Furthermore, such technologies use full-scale operating systems with unneeded most of their codebase (e.g., a web server may require 50MB but reserve a 20GB virtual machine). We suggest that Unikernel Virtual Machines (UVMs) fit this context very well, since they have a very small size and rapid boot-up times, i.e., can be responsive to dynamic changes in the network conditions.
The MONROE project offers unique experimentation capabilities utilizing both highly-mobile environments and real operational Mobile Broadband (MBB) networks. In MEC, we complement the MONROE platform with lightweight cloud capabilities residing in the mobile nodes. We plan to experiment with: (i) Intelligent orchestrated cloud resources that improve mobile communication and adapt to the conditions of the MBB networks, (ii) Multi-homing capabilities that consider resource offloading to the nearby cloud resources, and (iii) Novel forecasting mechanisms for the dynamic network conditions. The above will be demonstrated with three novel scenarios utilizing the MONROE platform and our SWN test-bed (i.e., Web Load Balancing, Ephemeral VMs Orchestration and Internet of Things).
Cross-Layer Control of Data Flows (CORAL)
H2020 WiSHFUL Open Call Project
2016-2017
New flexible network architectures emerged lately, such as the Software-Defined Networks (SDNs) that decouple network control from data plane and provide logically-centralized management of the network. However, SDNs were introduced for infrastructure networks and have not yet fully evolved for heterogeneous wireless networks. Furthermore, their flow control does not consider the diverse wireless channel characteristics, which is essential for improved QoS and energy-efficiency of mobile devices. We believe the radio-interface flexibility can complement such solutions, enabling cross-layer optimization of network operation.
The CORAL project focuses on the experimentation of SDN-inspired capabilities aiming at improved QoE of users and QoS of applications over resource-constrained devices. It experiments with novel network control features and protocols that: (i) realize optimized routing over mobile devices with signal issues and intermittent connectivity; and (ii) improve resource allocation and energy consumption of mobile devices. Such novel features can only be experimented in the WiSHFUL platform, since it provides the required realistic experimentation capabilities, such as the appropriate radio- and network-control abstractions over heterogeneous wireless environments.
EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
2013-2016
DOLFIN aims to significantly contribute towards improving the energy efficiency of Data Centres and stabilizing of Smart Grids, a holistic approach, across networks of Data Centres and Smart Grids. Today, most DCs are part of computing and storage clouds, offering their customers Virtual Machines (VMs) as a virtual operating environment. DOLFIN will model, monitor, and measure energy consumption and enable seamless, autonomic migration of VMs between servers of the same DC or across a group of Energy-conscious, Synergetic DCs, aiming to:
optimize the overall energy consumption by dynamically changing the percentage of active versus stand-by servers and the load per active server in a DC, and
stabilize the Smart Grid energy distribution, under peak load and increased demand, by dynamically changing the energy consumption/ production requirements of the local DCs.
EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
2010-2013
While there has been undeniable progress in the field of autonomics research over the past several years across the world and especially in Europe, widespread deployments of self-management techniques are still missing. At the same time the need for techniques enabling the transformation of operational models, the evolution of networks towards a flexible playground for operators, and more generally techniques participating to the increase of the return on investment, is becoming more and more evident. Further, most efforts and initiatives have been focussed on solving manageability bottlenecks in a given technological domain, while services extend anywhere, regardless of the technological boundaries (e.g., wireline/wireless). UniverSelf arises from this context and is thus driven by the need and objective to take self-management a leap further, and, in doing so, be both a federating and impactful project.
EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
2010-2013
This project that has the potential to allow Space Agencies, Academic Institutes and Research Centers to share space-data generated by a single or multiple missions, in a natural, flexible, secure and automated manner. We develop a communication overlay modeled according to thematic context of missions, Ground Segment topological distribution, Agency policies and Application restrictions and requirements. We realize our model through the development of Space-Data Routers: a (Delay-Tolerant Networking) DTN-enabled device that:
(i) incorporates the Space Agency administrative instructions and policies for data dissemination and resource utilization, and
(ii) integrates the DTN protocol stack with application, network and link layer protocols.
We pay particular attention to ESA roadmap for Interplanetary Communications and implement a communication scheme that scales natively with future deployments in Space. In essence, we promote the ultimate objective of most missions, which is to return space data, which, in turn, will be disseminated and exploited for the benefit of human scientific knowledge. Space-Data Routers form an overlay suitable for exploiting space data efficiently, which is, by definition, a major objective of all space missions and probably the most significant failure today.
EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
2010-2013
SPICE relies on three major objectives: to broaden the group’s accomplished research innovation and engineering capacity both by mobilizing our resources to visit first-class cooperating European institutions and hiring top class researchers from abroad; to support a revolutionary scientific agenda, as far as Delay Tolerant Networking is concerned, that boosts European competitiveness and supports a wide spectrum of applications; and to institutionalize and establish a permanent quality framework for innovative research activities in the convergence region of Thrace. Apart from the required infrastructure update, SPICE aims at promoting research through the publication of special issues in high-quality journals, the organisation of regular lectures and presentations from distinguished scientists, as well as the hosting of a panel session and two workshops on promising networking technologies, like 4G communications.
EU Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
2008-2010
Autonomic Internet (AutoI) project suggests a transition from a service agnostic Internet to service-aware network, managing resources by applying autonomic principles. In order to achieve the objective of service-aware resources and to overcome the ossification of the current Internet AutoI will develop a self-managing virtual resource overlay that can span across heterogeneous networks that can support service mobility, security, quality of service and reliability. In this overlay network, multiple virtual networks co-exist on top of a shared substrate with uniform control.
European Space Agency
2007-2008
The Delay-Tolerant Networking (DTN) Architecture calls for new design principles that will govern data transmission and retransmission scheduling over challenged environments, such as space communications. In that context, novel routing, transport and application layer algorithms have to be established in order to achieve efficient and reliable communication between DTN-nodes. Extending Internet Into Space is a project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) with a long-term objective to build a space-suitable set of of Internetworking protocols to allow efficient space communications and application diversity.
COST290: Traffic and QoS Management in Wireless Multimedia Networks
European Coordination in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST)
2004-2008
The main objective of the Action is to increase the knowledge on future advanced Multiservice Wireless Networks (MWNs) and specifically on traffic nature and behaviour and its impact on network architecture, performance and planning. Special attention must be given to Quality of Service and related aspects in both access networks and core networks in the presence of mixed multimedia traffic. To accomplish this, new analytical tools, software implementations and prototypes have to be developed and validated.
EU Framework Programme 6 (FP6)
2004-2007
In the Ambient Networks vision “any” user will be able to connect to “any” network. This will increase the dynamics between different kinds of networks and between user devices and networks. In addition, the business dynamics will increase with a multitude of service and network providers and with an increasing number of business relations between market actors. The Ambient Networks (AN) project aims to achieve this functionality for network cooperation in a technically simple manner, in order to promote its widespread adoption.