Experiences evaluating OpenStack network data plane performance and scalability

Abstract

Growth in cloud computing motivates cloud networks that provide excellent performance and scalability. Improvements rely on the ability to measure these characteristics. Measurement is complicated by a combinatorial explosion of implementations, configurations, metrics, workloads and scenarios. We present tools and a framework that facilitate performance and scalability evaluation. We present the results of applying the framework to six OpenStack network implementations/configurations. The results validate the framework's ability to highlight the performance and scalability impact of changes to the underlying cloud implementation and configuration. Our experience also yields important lessons regarding cloud network evaluation.