A Cloud based architecture for IPTV as a Service

Esmeralda Hysenbelliu
Faculty of Information Technology
Polytechnic University of Tirana,
Mother Teresa 4, Tirana, Albania
[email protected]

Abstract Second, SDN provides a well-defined interface

between the now-separated control and data planes,
Software Defined Networking (SDN) is a new and
including a set of abstractions for network devices that
important approach in networking technology, designed
hide the many of their details. Third, SDN migrate
to create high level abstractions on top of which
control plane logic to a logically centralized controller
hardware and software infrastructure can be built to
that exploits a global view of network resources and
support new cloud computing applications. SDN is also
knowledge of application requirements to implement
referred to as programmable network because it
and optimize global policies.
attempts to isolate control plane from data plane and
provides an independent and centralized unit to control
the network (this application unit is called Controller). Virtualization and abstraction [JP2013]: SDN
These networks are implemented to support dynamic defines open, standard abstractions for networks that
nature of the network functions and intelligent hide the details of the underlying infrastructure, similar
applications with low operating cost through simplified to how an operating system abstracts the complexity of
hardware, software and management. The aim of this underlying hardware by exporting common application
paper is to implement and present a study of cloud programming interfaces (APIs) to services such as file
based architecture for IPTV Service implemented systems, virtual memory, sockets, and threads. SDN
inside SMC ISP data center (Software Media offers the potential to reverse this trend by addressing
Communication ISP). SDN SMC Architecture is built these problems in the controller software running on
in a simple concrete way involving Napster -3Protocol, commodity servers that programs network hardware
NGNIX and SOAP Application Protocols achieving using open protocols. The dominant use of SDN that
IPTV service in more secure, scalable and cost enables solutions to these problems is network
effective manner. virtualization. Network virtualization involves
abstracting the physical network in two ways: (i)
Keywords isolating multiple tenants and giving them a view such
SDN Approaches, Software Defined Networking, that they are the only ones using the network and (ii)
Virtualization, SDN SMC architecture, IPTV service presenting an abstract topology that may differ from the
physical topology, e.g., an abstract topology with all
hosts attached to a single, large switch. A related
1. Introduction concept is Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)
Software defined networking (SDN) represents a [PH2013], which replaces specialized appliances such
fundamental advancement, revolutionizing the network as firewalls, load balancers, and intrusion detection
industry [DOJDFCBMTR2014]. The difference systems with virtual machines (VMs) running on
between SDN and traditional networking consist: First, conventional servers ([SERRS2013], [SERRS2011,
SDN separates the data plane, which forwards traffic at SHC2013]) connected to the network. In the server
full speed, from the control plane, which makes world, virtualization has enabled new applications and
decisions about how to forward traffic at longer time revenue streams that would not have been technically
scales. possible or economically feasible otherwise. It is
anticipated the same will be true for networking.

Copyright © 2015 for the individual papers by the papers' authors.

Splitting the data plane and the control plane: In
Copying permitted only for private and academic purposes. conventional networks, each device implements both
In: A. B dic , M. Colhon (eds.): Proceedings of the 2015 Balkan
data and control plane functionality. Each device
Conference on Informatics: Advances in ICT continues to forward packets at full speed on the basis

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of currently installed forwarding rules, but the there is made an effort to propose architecture for the
distributed control plane is replaced with a logically SDN based data centre providing IPTV service. The
centralized controller that programs the forwarding idea was to build a real network to provide IPTV,
rules of each device in the network. The controller uses Video CLUB, AUDIO CLUB and Video on Demand
its global network view to create basic forwarding rules services to clients using Software Cloud Networking
that are not limited to spanning trees and dovetail with for offering different Cloud applications as YouTube,
higher-level functionalities such as Network Address Games, Browsers. To realize this, there is created a
Translation (NAT) and VLANs. The ability to control physical connection between Client and Cloud with
all aspects of the network results in flexibility and Fiber. To enable a cost-efficient realization of user-
innovation. defined virtual infrastructures in the cloud, there is
Centralizing network control: Once the data and proposed an architecture for Software-Defined Cloud
control planes are split, it is no longer necessary to Computing environments that is composed of four
have a distributed control plane. As a consequence distinct layers:
most realizations of SDN migrates a substantial portion The first layer, user layer, runs on user devices, such as
of network control functionality to a logically mobile devices and browsers from workstations. It
centralized SDN controller. The controller connects to provides an interface between the end user and the
every switch in the network, typically through a resources on the cloud, forwarding requests to the latter
separate control network, which allows it to monitor to complete certain tasks that can be better completed
and control each device. Though less common, the in the cloud rather than in the device itself.
distributed management plane can also be replaced with The second layer, application layer, is the level that
a logically centralized management point, possibly the decides whether requests can be executed or not and
same controller, to enable network-wide monitoring, also schedules them.
management, and policy enforcement While there are
well-recognized trade-offs between distributed and The next layer is the control layer, where the logic that
centralized control, the advantages of centralization controls the SDC cloud is implemented.
appear to greatly outweigh the disadvantages in the The bottommost layer, the infrastructure layer, is the
context of SDN. Most of the problems described earlier portion where the management actions from the layer
can be solved using SDN technology. For example, an above are applied, generating two distinct views: the
SDN controller has global visibility into the current physical plane, which contains the physical resources
state of the network, e.g., link and buffer utilization, that compose the data center, and the virtual plane,
device failures, and where hosts are located, so it can where the virtual infrastructure defined by users is
implement end-to-end quality of service (QoS) and realized. In SDN SMC architecture, Infrastructure layer
respond rapidly to failures ([FRRHV2010], components are [LR2011]:
[BAAZ2011]). However, SDN need not centralize
control entirely. The rest of this paper is organized as
follows: Section II describes our SDN Architecture Infrastructure layer:
implemented in SMC ISP data center. Section III a) Physical plane:
describes the key benefits of implemented IPTV service 1. A Mikrotik Router RB 1100 AH –performing
on SMC ISP data center. In Section IV we have routing of Clients request in Internet via PPOE
Conclusions and References Protocol
2. 1 Catalyst Cisco switch – which process 40 Gbps.
2. SDN Architecture based on IPTV This switch enables a good QoS in Multi cast Services
Service implemented on SMC data center 3. HP server DL 360 G5 with two processers Xeon
Since managing the control of the networking part of Dual core 2.66 GHZ, 12 G RAM, 2X160 Giga HDD
the centre is a challenging task and keeping in view the SAS Interface, Ride1
advantages of Software Defined Networks, in this paper

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4. OLT ZTE C300 Equipment which offers GPON b. Receiving Multicast Services from a Multiplexed
Technology with optical fiber. The most important Content.
feature of this equipment is to increase number of end c. Receiving Multicast Services from a digital receiver
users being connected only in a fiber thread using RF (In SDN SMC Architecture, we have build an
Passive Splitters. We are able to connect until 126 end- Ubuntu Server with a digital Receiver RF which
clients via 1 Gbit/s Interface. perform conversion in IP multicast via proper helpful
packages installed on it.
b) Virtual Plane:
As VMWare we have used VM Vsfere 5.5 server
which provides the infrastructure of Virtual Machines
built on it. This server gives the possibility to pool and
manage the resources of multiple hosts and effectively
monitor and manage physical and virtual infrastructure.
We can manage resources for virtual machines,
provision virtual machines, schedule tasks, collect
Statistics logs, create templates, and more. Inside this
server, there are created for VM’s as follow:

Figure 1: SDN SMC Architecture

5. ONU client ZTE F660 Router – This router is a

Wireless Gigabit Router and operates as a Switch Layer
3 GPON.
6. Set box MAG 250 -The Set-Top Box is designed for
ISPs, OTT-operators and content aggregators that
provide services based on IPTV and VoD. MAG250
contains a whole set of functions that are in high
demand with operators, such as playback of digital TV
channels in high quality, streaming video support and
video on demand. Stalker Middleware makes possible a
fast and efficient launch of IP-network video services.
7. To receive Multicast services, there are used three
methods:
a. Receiving Multicast Services directly by a certain
content.

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 b. This server realizes all services and applications on
Cloud such Video club, audio club, VoD services and
YouTube, browsers etc application.
SDN SMC architecture above is a concrete architecture
built with real hardware elements. A layered
architecture is given in figure 2.
Security challenges on SDN SMC architecture based on
IPTV services:
1. To protect data centre from threats that cannot be
stopped by other security devices.
2. To secure the availability of the most important
asset: the data centre services
3. To protect the data centre infrastructure and
connectivity as well as customer services and data
4. To provide much needed visibility at the data centre
edge and inside data centers

2.1 Application Protocols

Napster -3Protocol: - This Application protocol is a
Complex client -server protocol with central site. Users
can register, log in, etc and registration message
includes age, income, and education. Central site which
is service provider (Administrator) can allow or forbid
the users to browsing/searching, uploading
/downloading data. Process of Files transfer is direct
and does not go through napster.com’s site [Jay2012].
Operation Logic of this protocol:
Figure 2: SDN SMC Layered architecture a. Client sends search or browse requests to central site.

VM1 is a Fedora System in which there is installed -Can browse some other user’s files.
Radius Manager. The main function of Radius manager -Response comes back from central site.
is authentication, Bandwidth control, Billing System b. Only explicitly-shared files should be retrievable.
and for all PPOE Users.
c. Napster -3Protocol handles all file types (MP3,
VM2 is a Centos 5.5 System in which we have installed AUDIO, and VIDEO etc)
Bind DNS Server.
This protocol is much secure because it is much harder
VM3 is an Ubuntu server with 64 Bit which perform for clients to lie (Can't give fake IP addresses, port
de-multiplexing of IP Multicast numbers etc). Administrator can exert much control.
Vm4 is an Ubuntu server with 64 Bit in which there is Using this protocol we decrease privacy issues because
installed Stalker Portal Middleware and some helpful service provider or Administrator knows (almost)
packages. Most important functionalities of this server everything. In cloud network fake content and fake line
are: speed attacks still apply but in theory, are more
a. Conversion of Multi cast channels to Unicast that traceable through Napster -3protocol and this is the
will be used to SET BOX best feature protecting cloud data from attacks

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SOAP Protocol (Simple Object access protocol)
[W3C2007]: SOAP allows you to build interoperable
software and allows others to take advantage of your
software over a network. It defines rules for sending
and receiving Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) such as
the structure of the request and responses. Therefore,
SOAP is not tied to any specific operating system or
programming language. As that matters is someone can
formulate and parse a SOAP message in their chosen
language
NGNIX protocol: NGINX Protocol is acting as reverse
proxy protocol [Kol2015]. This protocol can load
balance HTTP/HTTPS traffic specifically, or it can
load balance straight TCP traffic without regard to the
protocol. Referring to our architecture, NGINX is
configured in VM4. In the configuration file displayed
in figure 3, there are two virtual servers where virtual
server 1listen on port 80 and second virtual server
listen on port 8888. When a request comes from client,
NGNIX first decides which server should process the
request. In our configuration NGNIX tests only the
requests header field “Host” to determine which server
the request should be routed to. If its value does not Figure 3: NGNIX Configuration file in VM4
match any server name, or the request does not contain
this header field at all, then NGNIX will route the
request to the default server for this port. In our 3. Key benefits of implemented IPTV
configuration, NGNIX accept proxy protocols headers service on SMC ISP data center
on two ports for each server:
Server 1: port 80 and 88 The following are some of the other benefits arising out
of using SDN in SMC ISP for implementing IPTV
Server 2: port 8888 and 9999 service:
Using NGNIX we can retrieve resources on behalf of a 1. It can improve network management efficiency
client from the application servers. because it does not require continuous upgrades.
2. It integrates the department LANs with different
policies and reduces installation costs.
3. It provides stable networks and reduces time and
costs for the operation management and configuration
modifications.
4. It reduces installation costs
In SDN SMC data center, legacy networks are difficult
to automate as the control plane intelligence is
distributed. SDN promises an easier, more dynamic
interaction with the network through abstraction of the
control plane. This reduces the complexity of
managing, provisioning, and changing the network.

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