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Towards High Performability in Advanced Metering Infrastructures

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Towards High Performability in Advanced Metering Infrastructures University of Passau Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics Chair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications PhD thesis Towards High Performability in Advanced Metering Infrastructures Michael Niedermeier 1. Reviewer Hermann de Meer Chair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications University of Passau 2. Reviewer Anne Remke Group of Safety-Critical Systems University of Münster 11/06/2020 Michael Niedermeier Towards High Performability in Advanced Metering Infrastructures PhD thesis, 11/06/2020 Reviewers: Hermann de Meer and Anne Remke University of Passau Chair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics Innstrasse 43 94032 Passau Abstract The current movement towards a smart grid serves as a solution to present power grid challenges by introducing numerous monitoring and communication technologies. A dependable, yet timely exchange of data is on the one hand an existential prerequisite to enable Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) services, yet on the other a challenging endeavor, because the increasing complexity of the grid fostered by the combination of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and utility networks inherently leads to dependability challenges. To be able to counter this dependability degradation, current approaches based on high-reliability hardware or physical redundancy are no longer feasible, as they lead to increased hardware costs or maintenance, if not both. The flexibility of these approaches regarding vendor and regulatory interoperability is also limited. However, a suitable solution to the AMI dependability challenges is also required to maintain certain regulatory-set performance and Quality of Service (QoS) levels. While a part of the challenge is the introduction of ICT into the power grid, it also serves as part of the solution. In this thesis a Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) based approach is proposed, which employs virtualized ICT components serving as a replacement for physical devices. By using virtualization techniques, it is possible to enhance the performability in contrast to hardware based solutions through the usage of virtual replacements of processes that would otherwise require dedicated hardware. This approach offers higher flexibility compared to hardware redundancy, as a broad variety of virtual components can be spawned, adapted and replaced in a short time. Also, as no additional hardware is necessary, the incurred costs decrease significantly. In addition to that, most of the virtualized components are deployed on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware solutions, further increasing the monetary benefit. The approach is developed by first reviewing currently suggested solutions for AMIs and related services. Using this information, virtualization technologies are investigated for their performance influences, before a virtualized service infrastructure is devised, which replaces selected components by virtualized counterparts. Next, a novel model, which allows the separation of services and hosting substrates is developed, allowing the introduction of virtualization technologies to abstract from the underlying architecture. Third, the performability as well as monetary savings are investigated by evaluating the developed approach in several scenarios using analytical and simulative model analysis as well as proof-of-concept approaches. Last, the practical applicability and possible regulatory challenges of the approach are identified and discussed. Results confirm that—under certain assumptions—the developed virtualized AMI is superior to the currently suggested architecture. The availability of services can be severely increased and network delays can be minimized through centralized hosting. The availability can be increased from 96.82 % to 98.66 % in the given scenarios, while decreasing the costs by over 60 % in comparison to the currently suggested AMI architecture. Lastly, the performability analysis of a virtualized service prototype employing performance analysis and a Musa-Okumoto approach reveals that the AMI requirements are fulfilled. iii Acknowledgement Throughout the writing of this dissertation I have received a great deal of support and assistance, both from a professional academic as well as personal level. I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to my primary supervisor, Prof. Hermann de Meer. Over the years of my career, he brought me closer to multiple important aspects of academic research, among others the importance of correct assumptions, methodological impact, and formalization. Moreover, he also provided me with numerous opportunities to gain insights into a wide range of research fields through national and international projects, which in turn enabled me to cooperate with interesting partners from industry and academia. Also, I want to cordially thank Prof. Anne Remke for kindly agreeing to serve as second reviewer. I feel sincerely indebted to my colleagues at the Chair of Computer Networks and Computer Communications, who made my time at the at the University of Passau the most valuable and pleasant experience I could hope for. In particular, I want to thank my former colleagues Dr. Patrick Wüchner, Prof. Andreas Fischer, Prof. Andreas Berl, Ralph Herkenhöhner, and Gergo˝ Lovász, as well as my current research fellows for their support, inspiration, and fruitful discussions on research-related and non-research-related topics. Apart from the colleges in my group, I would like to give special credit to two academic co-workers and friends, namely Matthias Schmid and Stefan Brand. While Matthias is topic-wise located in the database domain, he never refrained from listening to questions regarding current research challenges and offered his critique. Moreover, he provided a more than welcome distraction by being the most ambitious gym buddy possible, which allowed me to keep a level head in times of need. Special thanks also go to Stefan Brand, who provided invaluable programming work in the development of the AMIgo simulation framework. Even after finishing his master thesis he selflessly provided support and even extended his work, for which I can only provide my severe gratitude. I am permanently thankful to my parents and brothers for their loving support, no matter if professional or non-academic questions were regarded. Last but definitely not least, I want to express my sincere gratefulness to my beloved girlfriend Sabine for guarding my back and enduring my (for any person except myself) ridiculous thesis writing sessions throughout uncounted nights. v Table of Contents List of Acronyms xi List of Figures xv List of Tables xvii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Dependable Smart Grids . 2 1.2 Challenges and Solution Approach . 3 1.3 Contributions . 5 1.4 Thesis Structure . 7 2 Background and Related Work 11 2.1 Background . 12 2.1.1 Dependability, Performance and Performability . 13 2.1.1.1 Dependability . 13 2.1.1.2 Performance . 16 2.1.1.3 Performability . 18 2.1.2 Smart Grid and Advanced Metering Infrastructure . 21 2.1.2.1 Smart Grid . 21 2.1.2.2 Advanced Metering Infrastructure . 22 2.1.3 Virtualization . 29 2.1.3.1 Host Virtualization . 29 2.1.3.2 Network Virtualization . 30 2.1.3.3 Network Function Virtualization . 30 2.2 Related Work . 32 2.2.1 Performability/Dependability in Smart Grids . 32 2.2.2 Virtualization for Performability/Dependability . 34 2.2.3 Combining Approaches & Own Contributing Work . 35 2.3 Summary . 36 3 Improvement of AMI Systems using Virtualization 39 3.1 Overview of Current AMI Architecture . 40 3.1.1 Architecture Overview . 40 3.1.2 Preliminary Evaluation . 40 3.2 Performability Impact of Virtualization . 41 3.2.1 Reliability . 42 3.2.2 Maintainability . 45 3.2.2.1 Corrective Maintenance . 45 3.2.2.2 Preventive Maintenance . 49 vii 3.2.3 Availability . 51 3.2.4 Performance/Performability . 52 3.2.4.1 Virtualization Overheads . 52 3.2.4.2 Influence of “Bare” Virtualization . 53 3.2.4.3 Influence of “Applied” Virtualization . 57 3.3 Summary . 58 4 Creating a Network Function Virtualized AMI 59 4.1 General Idea . 60 4.2 Hardware Abstraction and Centralization . 61 4.2.1 Hardware Requirements and Abstraction . 61 4.2.2 Relocation of Hardware . 63 4.2.2.1 Dependability . 64 4.2.2.2 Performance . 64 4.2.2.3 Comparison and Server Location Distribution Selection . 66 4.3 Softwarized Service Generation and Location . 66 4.3.1 Softwarization of AMI Services . 66 4.3.2 Virtual Network Function Component Composition . 67 4.3.3 Embedding of Virtual Network Function Forwarding Graphs . 69 4.4 Introducing Performability-Enhancing Methods . 74 4.4.1 Substrate Enhancements . 74 4.4.1.1 Circle Backup Network Layout . 74 4.4.1.2 All-for-All Backup Network Layout . 76 4.4.2 Software Enhancements . 76 4.4.2.1 Software Rejuvenation . 76 4.4.2.2 Service Replication . 79 4.5 Summary . 80 5 Modeling a Virtualized AMI 81 5.1 Current AMI Models and their Shortcomings . 82 5.2 Model Requirements . 83 5.3 Development of an AMI model . 86 5.3.1 Failure Behavior . 86 5.3.1.1 Root Cause Breakdown . 86 5.3.1.2 Hardware and Software Failures . 87 5.3.1.3 Failure Modes . 90 5.3.2 Recovery Behavior . 92 5.3.2.1 Possibility . 92 5.3.2.2 Quality . 92 5.3.2.3 Structure . 93 5.3.3 Macro Model (Inter-System) . 94 5.3.3.1 VNFA Macro Model . 94 5.3.3.2 SSMA Macro Model . 98 5.3.4 Micro Model (Intra-System) . 98 5.3.4.1 Nomenclature . 99 5.3.4.2 Assumptions.
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