BOLT

Performance contracts for software network functions

We propose the notion of performance contracts for NFs. A performance contract enables users to predict and scrutinize NF performance at fine granularities without having to run them. It provider users with an abstraction that enables them to easily parameterize arbitrary input workloads, whether typical, exceptional or adversarial. Given only this abstract description of the workload and not a concrete instance, the contract predicts the performance of the NF without actually running it. The performance predictions are in terms of human-readable formulae, expressed as a function of workload and environment variables, that we together call Performance Critical Variables (PCVs). informed development decisions.