A Scalable and Distributed Hierarchical Architecture for Network Monitoring-on-Demand

Efficient resource orchestration within cloud-native and future 6G infrastructures is a major challenge and essential for maintaining seamless service delivery. We present a novel monitoring approach as part of the REASON 6G architecture that is designed to leverage microservices and cloud-native technologies, which extend beyond traditional technological or administrative domain boundaries, incorporating the edge domain within ubiquitous networks. The core of this approach is the development of Monitoring Applications (mApps) and the Matching Service. The former are microservices tracking/gathering data metrics from a data source such as the edge system, while the latter is a request-matching messaging system built on the WireMQ messaging library, with its appropriately designed well-defined Northbound (NB) and Southbound (SB) APIs facilitating secure, scalable data distribution across cloud-native environments. This microservice-based approach enhances flexibility, scalability, and maintainability in monitoring systems, making it particularly suitable for complex environments like 5G and future 6G networks. Moreover, it allows cross-domain extendability and interoperability through its hierarchical design. Our presented WireMQ-based prototype supports authentication and authorization, ensuring controlled and secure access to data. It also offers features like historical data storage, data watchers and triggers, and topic abstraction for data protection. In this work, we demonstrate its capabilities in a decentralised and distributed network.