Leveraging Kubernetes for Automated Deployment and Orchestration in Virtualized Wi-Fi Networks

Abstract The increasing prevalence of wireless devices has led to the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi networks. This demand has driven the development of solutions that involve the coordinated management of Access Points. In recent years, Software-Defined Wireless Networks (SDWNs) have emerged as a promising approach, leveraging Software-Defined Networking (SDN) principles to enable intelligent coordination and management of APs using cost-effective hardware. However, while SDWNs have primarily focused on managing the radio interface, less attention has been devoted to SDN-based management of wired network segments or the automated deployment of virtualized Wi-Fi infrastructures. In this work, we present a fully virtualized Wi-Fi network solution that integrates SDN and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) principles across both wireless and wired segments. Our architecture features SDN-based data plane management, two SDN controllers, virtualized APs, and a virtualized gateway, all implemented as containerized components. Automated deployment and orchestration are facilitated using Kubernetes. This infrastructure provides a robust foundation for implementing advanced end-to-end functionalities, such as network slicing, thereby preparing Wi-Fi networks for seamless integration into future 5G and 6G ecosystems.