SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE forMulti-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini, Antonio Virdis, Giovanni Stea, Angelo Buono
Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
OMNeT++ Community Summit 2018, Pisa, Italy
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Outline
• Road towards 5G
• LTE/LTE-A & Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) technologies
• Simulating LTE networks with OMNeT++: SimuLTE
• Modeling MEC within SimuLTE
• Use case: alerts in a vehicular network scenario
• Conclusions
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
The road towards 5G
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
The LTE/LTE-Advanced technology
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Internet
eNodeB
User Equipments(UEs)
Downlink (DL)
Uplink (UL)
Device-to-device (D2D)
PGW
Core Network
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Introducing MECMulti-access Edge Computing
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Internet
Core Network
eNodeB
User Equipments(UEs) PGW
ME Host
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
ETSI MEC Framework
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Keep the status of ME Hosts
Selects a ME Host for allocating a
ME App
Accomplish a specific task
Services that can be exploited by
ME Apps
Creates/destroysinstances of VMs for
running ME AppsNME Hosts
[1] ETSI GS MEC 003, ‘’Mobile Edge Computing (MEC); Framework and reference architecture’’
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Simulating LTE+MEC
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Internet
Algorithms for allocation of
computing resources
ME Host ME Host
Optimal deploymentof ME hosts
Performance evaluationat larger scale w.r.t. real testbeds
Migration of ME Applications between
ME Hosts
Prototyping MEC-basedapplications and protocols
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Simulating cellular networks with OMNeT++
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
http://simulte.com
System-level simulations of LTE/LTE-Advanced networks
• Developed at the University of Pisa
• Full protocol stack implementation of the LTE Network
Interface Card (LTE NIC)
• Extends the INET’s INetworkInterface module
• Interoperability with INET’s higher-layer protocol modules
PDCP
RLC
MAC
PHY
Scheduler
ChannelModelCoM
P
Handover
D2D
Mode
Sele
ction
LTE NIC
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
SimuLTE basics
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
LTE NIC
IP
UDP TCP
UDP Apps
TCP Apps
LTE NIC
IP
X2 PPP
UEeNodeB
Binder
LTE NIC
Car
UDP
GTP
Main components
[2] G. Nardini, A. Virdis, G. Stea, ‘’Simulating cellular communications in Vehicular Networks: making SimuLTE interoperable with Veins’’, OMNeT++ Comm. Summit 2017
Artery
[2]
…
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
SimuLTE basics
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
• Data-plane only
LTE NIC
IP
X2 PPP
eNodeB
UDP
GTP
IP
PPP
PGW
UDP
GTP
PPP
The core network
• GTP tunneling between the eNodeB and the PGW
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Modeling the MEC architecture
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
LTE NIC
IP
X2 PPP
eNodeB
UDP
GTP
IP
PPP
MeHost
UDP
GTP
PPP
• GTP tunneling between the eNodeB and the ME Host
GtpEndpoint
VirtualisationInfrastructure
MePlatform
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Modeling the MEC architecture
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
IP
UDP
PPP
VirtualisationManager ResourceManager
GtpEndpoint
VirtualisationInfrastructure
MePlatformIMeService[0] IMeService[N-1]…
MeHost
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Modeling the MEC architecture
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
IP
UDP
PPP
VirtualisationManager ResourceManager
GtpEndpoint
VirtualisationInfrastructure
MePlatformIMeService[0] IMeService[N-1]…
IMeApp[0] IMeApp[M-1]
MeHost
…
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Data flow
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Definition of MeAppPacket
• START_MEAPP
• STOP_MEAPP
• ACK_START_MEAPP
• ACK_STOP_MEAPP
• INFO_UEAPP
• INFO_MEAPP
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Data flow
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Definition of MeAppPacket
• START_MEAPP
• STOP_MEAPP
• ACK_START_MEAPP
• ACK_STOP_MEAPP
• INFO_UEAPP
• INFO_MEAPP
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
A use case for MEC
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Car alert serviceThe car is approaching a black ice area:
• On-board sensors
• Vehicle-to-vehicle communications (VANETs)
• Vehicle-to-infrastructure communications (Wi-Fi access to Road-side units)
• Communication with a remote server
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
A use case for MEC
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Car alert serviceUsing MEC
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
A use case for MEC
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Car alert serviceUsing MEC
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Implementing a MEC-based car alert service
• UEWarningAlertApp – periodically sends position updates to the ME Host
• MEWarningAlertApp – receives position updates from UEs
• MEWarningAlertService – keeps the map of danger zones
• WarningAlertPacket – includes position information
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Configuring the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Running the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Running the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Running the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Running the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Running the simulation
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Conclusions
• Multi-access Edge Computing and cellular networks
• Modeling MEC within SimuLTE
• Compliance with ETSI specifications
• Pluggable interface to allow researchers evaluating new apps and services
• Use case: car alert service
• Implementation
• Simulation configuration
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
Future work
• Additional services as per ETSI specifications, e.g. Location Manager
• Support for migrating ME Applications between ME Hosts
• Detailed modeling of ME Applications lifecycle and resource utilization
• Evaluation of new use cases and scenarios (suggestions are welcome!)
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
Thank You!Giovanni Nardini – University of Pisa
SimuLTE-MEC: extending SimuLTE for Multi-access Edge Computing
