WO2014169870A1

WO2014169870A1 - Virtual network element automatic loading and virtual machine ip address acquisition method and system, and storage medium

Info

Publication number: WO2014169870A1
Application number: PCT/CN2014/077194
Authority: WO
Inventors: 陶峑郡; 周宇翔; 田甜
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2013-08-05
Filing date: 2014-05-09
Publication date: 2014-10-23
Also published as: CN104348873A; CN104348873B

Abstract

The present invention discloses a virtual network element automatic loading method, including: a network function virtualization orchestrator, in accordance with an operator's hardware resource plans for the network element, submits, to a cloud management system, an application to create virtual machine resources for the network element; the cloud management system activates the virtual machine of the application; a network element management system or the network element virtualization orchestrator, in accordance with virtual machine resource information derived as a result of the application, generates a virtual network element description for the network element, and sends, to a virtual machine which is in a list of virtual machines and which is playing the role of a network element operation management unit, the virtual network element description of each network element; the virtual network element description includes at least the following: the list of virtual machines and the role corresponding to each virtual machine as contained in the virtual network element; the network element operation management unit, in accordance with the virtual network element description, configures a self-governing virtual machine. The present invention additionally discloses a virtual machine IP address acquisition method, and a virtual network element automatic loading and virtual machine IP address acquisition system. The use of the present invention lowers the production and maintenance costs associated with a network element in a communications network.

Description

Method and system for virtual network element automatic loading and virtual machine IP address acquisition, and storage medium

The present invention relates to a cloud computing technology, and in particular, to a virtual network element automatic loading method and system, a virtual machine IP address acquiring method and system, and a storage medium. Background technique

There are a large number of proprietary hardware devices in the telecom operators' networks, and they are still growing intensively. The introduction of a new network service often requires the addition of more new dedicated hardware devices, and the space for these devices and the space for them. It is becoming more and more difficult to supply power, accompanied by increased energy costs, capital investment challenges, and the lack of necessary design skills to integrate and operate increasingly complex hardware devices.

In addition, the life cycle of hardware devices is very short, which requires a large number of acquisition-design-integration-distribution to make almost no revenue-healing repetition. To make matters worse, the hardware life cycle begins to shrink, and service innovation accelerates, which inhibits new revenue from network service innovation and embraces innovation in a increasingly networked world.

The purpose of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is to use IT standardized virtualization technology to unify many network device types into industry-standard high-capacity servers and switches that can be placed in data centers, network nodes, and terminals. And storage to solve the above problem.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing network virtualization architecture. As shown in Figure 1, the following network elements are set in the network virtualization architecture:

NFVO (Network Function Virtualization Orchestration): Responsible for the creation and management of the network virtualization operating environment, including the network function virtual infrastructure (NFVI, Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure) Coordinated management with the Network Function Virtualization Service (NVFS) domain;

Cloud Management System (CMS), the main function is to realize cloud management and monitoring;

Transport Network Management System (TNMS), the main function of the transmission IP layer network management and monitoring;

The main function of Hypervisor/ (Virtual Machine Management, VMM) is to implement virtualization capability and virtualize hardware resources into multiple virtual machines (VMs).

The OSS/EMS is the Operate Support System (OSS) and the Element Management System (EMS), which manages and monitors the virtual network element business logic.

The virtual network function (VNF) is used to load the corresponding network element software version and the physical network element in the virtual carrier network.

The operation management unit (OMU) is the operation and maintenance unit of the network element. In the virtualized deployment scenario, the OMU needs to add an interface to the network management system/OSS to monitor the virtual machine of the virtual network element. Management

The Virtual Network Sub Function (VNSF) is a software sub-function module of a virtual network element. A network element can be decomposed into multiple sub-function components. Each functional component performs a function, and similar components can be processed according to processing capability requirements. Mapping to one or more VMs; servers, storage devices, and transport network devices, providing a network of hardware resources for network virtualization, primarily for network virtualization.

The current network virtualization architecture has a narrow application scope, such as a general cloud computing scenario, and a network virtualization architecture has a broader application scenario, but for various reasons, its use efficiency cannot be effectively utilized. Summary of the invention

To solve the above technical problem, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for automatically loading a virtual network element, a method and system for acquiring a virtual machine IP address, and a storage medium, which can automatically generate a network element required by a communication carrier, and implement an operator. Planning for communication services.

The technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention is implemented as follows:

A virtual network element automatic loading method, the method comprising:

The network function virtualization orchestrator applies to the cloud management system for the virtual machine resources constituting the network element according to the hardware resource planning of the network element by the operator;

The cloud management system starts the applied virtual machine;

The network element management system or the network function virtualization orchestrator generates a virtual network element description of the network element according to the applied virtual machine resource information, and acts as a network element operation management unit in the virtual machine list. The virtual machine sends a virtual network element description of each network element. The virtual network element description includes at least the following: a virtual machine list included in the virtual network element and a role corresponding to each virtual machine;

The network element operation management unit configures the virtual machine under the jurisdiction of the network element operation management unit according to the virtual network element description.

In the foregoing solution, before the network function virtualization orchestrator applies the virtual machine resources constituting the network element to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning of the network element, the method further includes: the network function virtualization orchestration The device receives the virtual office request message of the operation support system and/or the network element management system, and obtains the required hardware resource description in the virtual office request message; the required hardware resource description includes at least the following content:

a sub-function module included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-function module;

Hardware description of each sub-function module;

Performance and / or reliability level. In the above solution, the requesting, by the cloud management system, the virtual machine resource that constitutes the network element, includes: a source request description, and applying, to the cloud management system, a required virtual machine resource according to the virtual resource request description;

The virtual resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machine;

a description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

The operating system description required for each required virtual machine.

In the above solution, when the service module software provided by the service provider is included in the image file of the virtual machine, the virtual machine resource request description includes the following contents:

Required virtual machine;

Description of each required virtual machine hardware feature;

The name of the image file corresponding to each required virtual machine and the location of the image file.

In the above solution, the method further includes:

The network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the required virtual machine resource to the cloud management system, and when the transmission network management system is independent of the cloud management system, the network function virtualization orchestrator applies to the transmission network management system. The network partition and subnet of the network element.

In the above solution, the requested virtual machine resource information includes:

The virtual machine ID and its corresponding IP address.

In the above solution, the virtual machine list includes at least: a virtual machine identifier and a corresponding IP address, and a role corresponding to each virtual machine; the role corresponding to the virtual machine includes at least a function module that the virtual machine is responsible for; When the business software needs to be additionally installed, the role corresponding to the virtual machine includes the software version information that the virtual machine needs to be installed. The software version information includes the software version name, the address information of the software version, and the software installation script. In the above solution, the network element operation management unit configures the virtual machine under the jurisdiction of the network element operation management unit according to the description of the virtual network element, including:

Determining, by the network element operation management unit, the virtual machine object to be managed according to the virtual network element description, and configuring the management unit address in the determined management configuration file of the virtual machine, so that the configured management unit address points to the network element operation Management unit

Correspondingly, when the virtual machine needs to install software, the network element operation management unit guides each virtual machine to install the software required by each according to the virtual network element description.

In the above solution, after the network element operation management unit determines that the function modules corresponding to the virtual machines under its jurisdiction are normally started, the information of each virtual machine is registered with the network function virtualization orchestrator.

A virtual network element automatic loading method, the method comprising:

The operation support system and/or the network element management system notifies the network function virtualization orchestrator to create a virtual resource of the network element operation management unit;

The operation support system and/or the network element management system establishes a connection with the network element operation management unit, and performs network element data configuration on the network element operation management unit;

The network element operation management unit generates a virtual resource request description according to the network element data configuration, and creates a required virtual machine resource to the network function virtualization orchestrator, and after the creation is completed, manages the network element according to the network element configuration information. virtual machine.

In the foregoing solution, the operation support system and/or the network element management system notifies the network function virtualization orchestrator to create a virtual resource of the network element operation management unit, including:

After the network function virtualization orchestrator receives the request from the operation support system and/or the network element management system to establish a virtual office, construct a virtual machine resource request description required by the network element operation management unit of the virtual network element, and determine When the transport network management system and the cloud management system are separately set, the partition and sub-network are applied to the transport network management system, and the virtual resources are applied to the cloud management system.

A method for obtaining a virtual machine IP address, the method comprising: When the transport network management system receives the network function virtualization orchestrator requesting the network partition and the subnet request, assigning an IP address number segment to the partition and the subnet;

When receiving the request for the virtual resource by the network function virtualization orchestrator, the cloud management system sets a corresponding IP address for each virtual machine according to the IP number segment allocated by the transmission network management system.

In the above solution, the method further includes:

After the transport network management system allocates a subnet IP address number segment, the transport segment is sent to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, when the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the virtual machine resource to the cloud management system, an IP address is set for each virtual machine.

In the above solution, the method further includes:

When receiving the request for network partition and subnet request, the transport network management system sets a virtual DHCP server for the partition or subnet to create or associate a virtual dynamic host, and sends the virtual DHCP server address to the network function virtualization orchestration. Device

Correspondingly, when the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the virtual machine resource to the cloud management system, the address information of the virtual DHCP server is carried; when the cloud management system creates the virtual machine, obtains an IP address from the virtual DHCP server. .

A virtual network element automatic loading system, the system comprising a network function virtualization orchestrator, a cloud management system, a network element management system and a network element operation management unit, wherein:

The network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to apply to the cloud management system for the virtual machine resources constituting the network element according to the hardware resource planning of the network element by the operator;

The cloud management system is configured to allocate and start the requested virtual machine;

The network element management system or the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to: after starting the applied virtual machine, generate a virtual network element description of the network element according to the applied virtual machine resource information, and A virtual machine that acts as a network element operation management unit in the virtual machine list sends a virtual network element description of each network element. The virtual network element description includes at least the following content: The list of virtual machines included and the roles corresponding to each virtual machine;

The network element operation management unit is configured to configure a virtual machine under the jurisdiction of the network element operation management unit according to the description of the virtual network element.

In the above solution, the system further includes an operation support system and/or a network element management system; the network function virtualization orchestrator is further configured to receive a virtual office request message from the operation support system and/or the network element management system, Obtaining a required hardware resource description in the virtual office request message;

The required hardware resource description contains at least the following:

a sub-function module included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-function module;

Hardware description of each sub-function module;

Performance and / or reliability level.

In the above solution, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to generate a virtual resource request description according to the hardware resource planning of the network element, and apply for the required virtual machine resource to the cloud management system according to the virtual resource request description;

The virtual resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machine;

a description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

The operating system description required for each required virtual machine.

Required virtual machine;

Description of each required virtual machine hardware feature;

In the above solution, the system further includes: a transmission network management system, the transmission network management The system is independent of the cloud management system;

When the network function virtualization orchestrator requests the cloud management system for the required virtual machine resource, apply to the transmission network management system for the network partition and the subnet of the network element.

In the foregoing solution, the requested virtual machine resource information includes: a virtual machine identifier and a corresponding IP address thereof;

The virtual machine list includes at least: a virtual machine identifier and a corresponding IP address, and a role corresponding to each virtual machine; the role corresponding to the virtual machine includes at least a function module that the virtual machine is responsible for; the service software provided by the service provider needs to be extra During installation, the role corresponding to the virtual machine contains the software version information that the virtual machine needs to be installed. The software version information includes the software version name, the address information of the software version, and the software installation script.

In the above solution, the network element operation management unit is further configured to determine a virtual machine object to be managed according to the virtual network element description, and configure a management unit address in the determined management configuration file of the virtual machine, so that the configuration management is performed. The unit address points to the network element operation management unit;

Correspondingly, when the virtual machine needs to be installed with software, the network element operation management unit is further configured to guide each virtual machine to install the required software according to the virtual network element description.

A virtual network element automatic loading system, the system comprising: an operation support system and/or a network element management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator, and a network element operation management unit, wherein:

An operation support system and/or a network element management system, configured to notify the network function virtualization orchestrator to create a virtual resource of the network element operation management unit; establish a connection with the network element operation management unit, and manage the operation of the network element The unit performs network element data configuration;

The network element operation management unit is configured to generate a virtual resource request description according to the network element data configuration, and create a required virtual machine resource to the network function virtualization orchestrator, and after the creation is completed, configure the network element according to the configuration information of the network element. The virtual machine of the network element.

In the above solution, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to: after receiving the virtual office request from the operation support system and/or the network element management system, construct a network element operation tube of the virtual network element. The virtual machine resource request description required by the management unit, and when determining the separation between the transmission network management system and the cloud management system, apply for the partition and the sub-network to the transmission network management system, and apply for the virtual resource to the cloud management system.

The present invention also provides a virtual machine IP address acquisition system, the system comprising: a transmission network management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator, and a cloud management system, wherein:

a transmission network management system configured to receive an IP address number segment for the partition and the subnet when the network function virtualization orchestrator requests the network partition and subnet request;

The cloud management system is configured to set a corresponding IP address for each virtual machine according to the IP number segment assigned by the transport network management system when receiving the virtual request from the network function virtualization orchestrator.

In the above solution, the transport network management system is configured to allocate a subnet IP address number segment, and send the segment to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to, when configured to apply for virtual machine resources to the cloud management system, establish an IP address for each virtual machine.

In the above solution, the system further includes: a virtual dynamic host setting a virtual DHCP server; the transmission network management system is further configured to: when receiving the request for the network partition and the subnet request, create or associate a virtual DHCP server for the partition and the subnet, And sending the virtual DHCP server address to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to carry the address information of the virtual DHCP server when applying for the virtual machine resource to the cloud management system;

The cloud management system is configured to obtain an IP address from the virtual DHCP server when the virtual machine is created.

A storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program is configured to execute the aforementioned virtual network element automatic loading method.

A storage medium in which a computer program is stored, the computer program Configured to perform the aforementioned virtual machine IP address acquisition method.

According to the automatic loading method of the virtual network element in the embodiment of the present invention, the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the virtual machine resource constituting the network element to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning of the operator to the network element; and according to the applied virtual machine The resource information is generated, and the virtual network element description of the network element is generated. Each network element is created according to the applied virtual machine resource, and each network element includes a network element operation management unit. The virtual network element description of the network element is sent to the network element operation management. The network element operation management unit describes the virtual machine that manages the network element according to the virtual network element. In the embodiment of the present invention, the corresponding hardware resource is applied to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning, thereby forming a corresponding virtual network element in the communication system, and the virtual network element implements a related function of setting the network element, thereby implementing the communication system. Communication function. The embodiment of the invention reduces the component cost and maintenance cost of the relevant network element in the communication network, and makes the communication system more flexible and scalable, and more easily meets the communication service requirement of the user. DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an existing network virtualization architecture;

2 is a flowchart 1 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a second flowchart of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a flowchart 3 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 4 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart 5 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 1 of a method for acquiring a virtual machine IP address according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a second flowchart of a method for acquiring a virtual machine IP address according to an embodiment of the present invention. detailed description

In the present invention, the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the virtual machine resources constituting the network element to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning of the network element by the operator; and generates the virtuality of the network element according to the applied virtual machine resource information. Network element description; Create each network element according to the applied VM resources. Each network element includes a network element operation management unit, and sends a virtual network element description of the network element to the network element operation management unit. The network element operation management unit describes the virtual machine that manages the network element according to the virtual network element. In the embodiment of the present invention, the corresponding hardware resource is applied to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning, thereby forming a corresponding virtual network element in the communication system, and the virtual network element implements a related function of setting the network element, thereby implementing the communication system. Communication function. Alternatively, the operation support system and/or the network element management system notifies the network function virtualization orchestrator to create a virtual resource of the network element operation management unit; the operation support system and/or the network element management system establishes a connection with the network element operation management unit, and Performing network element data configuration on the network element operation management unit; the network element operation management unit generates a virtual resource request description according to the network element data configuration, and creates a required virtual machine resource to the network function virtualization orchestrator, and after the creation, according to the network The meta configuration information manages the virtual machines that constitute the network element.

In order to make the objects, the technical solutions and the aspects of the present invention more clearly, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the case of no conflict, the features in the embodiments and the embodiments in the present application may be arbitrarily combined with each other.

The virtual network element automatic loading system and the virtual machine IP address obtaining system of the present invention will now be described in detail based on FIG. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the virtual network element automatic loading system and the virtual machine IP address obtaining system of the embodiments of the present invention improve the functions of the corresponding network elements in the architecture based on the existing network virtualization architecture. Realized. The structure itself is no different from the existing network virtualization architecture.

The virtual network element automatic loading system of the present invention comprises a network function virtualization orchestrator, a cloud management system, a network element management system and a network element operation management unit, wherein:

The cloud management system is configured to start the applied virtual machine;

The network element management system or the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to generate a virtual network element description of the network element according to the applied virtual machine resource information after starting the applied virtual machine. The virtual network element description of each network element is sent to the virtual machine that acts as the network element operation management unit in the virtual machine list. The virtual network element description includes at least the following content: a virtual machine list included in the virtual network element. The role corresponding to each virtual machine;

On the basis of the foregoing system, the virtual network element automatic loading system of the embodiment of the present invention further includes an operation support system and/or a network element management system;

The network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to receive a virtual office request message of the operation support system and/or the network element management system, and obtain a required hardware resource description in the virtual office request message;

The required hardware resource description contains at least the following:

a sub-function module included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-function module;

Hardware description of each sub-function module;

Performance and / or reliability level.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to generate a virtual resource request description according to the hardware resource planning of the network element, and apply for the required virtual machine resource to the cloud management system according to the virtual resource request description;

The virtual resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machine;

a description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

The operating system description required for each required virtual machine.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the service module software provided by the service provider is included in the image file of the virtual machine, the virtual machine resource request description includes the following contents:

Required virtual machine; Description of each required virtual machine hardware feature;

On the basis of the foregoing system, the virtual network element automatic loading system of the embodiment of the present invention further includes: a transmission network management system, the transmission network management system being independent of the cloud management system

When the network function virtualization orchestrator requests the cloud management system for the required virtual machine resources, the network management system applies the network partition and the subnet of the network element to the transmission network management system.

In the virtual network element automatic loading system of the embodiment of the present invention, the requested virtual machine resource information includes: a virtual machine identifier and a corresponding IP address thereof;

The network element operation management unit is further configured to determine a virtual machine object to be managed according to the virtual network element description, and configure a management unit address in the determined management configuration file of the virtual machine, so that the configured management unit address points to the location The network element operation management unit;

The network element operation management unit is further configured to register information of each virtual machine to the network function virtualization orchestrator after determining that the function modules corresponding to the virtual machines under its jurisdiction are normally started.

The embodiment of the present invention further describes another virtual network element automatic loading system, including: an operation support system and/or a network element management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator, and a network element operation management unit, where:

An operational support system and/or an element management system configured to notify the network function virtualization orchestrator Creating a virtual resource of the network element management unit; establishing a connection with the network element operation management unit, and performing network element data configuration on the network element operation management unit;

In this embodiment, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to receive virtual machine resources required by the network element operation management unit of the virtual network element after receiving the virtual office request from the operation support system and/or the network element management system. Request description, and when determining the transmission network management system and the cloud management system, apply for the partition and sub-network to the transport network management system, and apply for virtual resources to the cloud management system.

The embodiment of the invention also describes a virtual machine IP address obtaining system, comprising: a transmission network management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator and a cloud management system, wherein:

In the virtual machine IP address obtaining system of the embodiment of the present invention, the transmission network management system is configured to: after the subnet IP address number segment is allocated, send the number segment to the network function virtualization orchestrator; The network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to set an IP address for each virtual machine when it is configured to apply for virtual machine resources to the cloud management system.

The virtual machine IP address obtaining system of the embodiment of the present invention further includes: a virtual dynamic host setting a virtual DHCP server;

The transport network management system is further configured to: when receiving the request for the network partition and the subnet request, create or associate a virtual DHCP server for the partition and the subnet, and configure the virtual DHCP Sending a server address to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

2 is a flowchart 1 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, this example describes a single data center scenario. In this scenario, the TNMS and the CMS are integrated into one, and are completed by the CMS. Network management function. The virtual network element automatic loading method in the embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps:

Step 201: The operator plans resource information required by the network element by using the OSS/EMS, and the information includes the following content:

Sub-function module information included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-function module;

The hardware feature description of each sub-function module, such as the required CPU frequency, how much memory and hard disk, network bandwidth information, etc.;

Performance and / or reliability level information;

Step 202: After the planning is complete, send a virtual office request to the NFVO, where the message carries the resource information required by the network element described in step 201;

Step 203: The NFVO constructs a virtual resource request description (RRD) according to the network element resource information, where the RRD includes a required virtual machine (one VM ID corresponding to each virtual machine), an operating system required by the virtual machine, and Description of the hardware characteristics of the virtual machine, such as how many CPU cores are needed, how much the main frequency, memory, hard disk size, network bandwidth, etc.

Step 204: The NFVO requests the VM resource from the cloud management system, and the request carries the RRD information. Step 205: The cloud management system allocates the required VM resource to the NFVO in the hardware resource pool through the VMM. After the success, the VM resource is returned and returned. The information contains the VM corresponding IP address, physical host information corresponding to the VM, location information of the VM, etc.; Step 206, NFVO constructs a virtual network function description (VNFD) for the virtual network function VNF, and the VNFD includes the VNF The role of the virtual machine list and the virtual machine, and the logical relationship between each sub-function module. The list includes a virtual machine ID and a corresponding IP address information, where the role includes a sub-function module that the VM is responsible for, a sub-function module software version name, a software version address information, a software installation script, and the like; Step 207, when the VNF After the OMU virtual machine is successfully started, NFVO establishes a TCP connection with the OMU.

Step 208, NFVO delivers VNFD to the OMU;

Note: In steps 206-208, the virtual machine allocation information can also be sent to the EMS by the NFVO, the VNFD is generated by the EMS, and the VNFD is sent by the EMS to the OMU.

Step 209, the OMU installs its own software version according to the VNFD and boots the software version of other virtual machines described in the VNFD VM list, and configures each virtual machine management configuration file so that its management unit address points to the OMU, so that Monitor and manage it later;

Step 210: The OMU detects that the VMs it is responsible for have completed the required software installation, and if it has started normally, registers with the NFVO;

Step 211, the NFVO returns a virtual office completion to the OSS/EMS, and carries the OMU IP address information.

Step 212: The OSS/EMS establishes contact with the OMU, configures the corresponding office data, and runs the virtual network element. Since this step is the same as the existing physical network element management mode, it is not described in detail in the present invention.

3 is a flowchart 2 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, this example describes supporting a cross-data center scenario. In this scenario, TNMS and CMS are separately configured, and transport network management is performed by TNMS. Be responsible for. The virtual network element automatic loading method in the embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: Steps 301 to 302 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 201 to 202, and are not described herein again.

Step 303: The NFVO applies for a network partition and a subnet request to the TNMS for the virtual office, where the request carries the quantity information of the required network address.

Step 304: The TNMS allocates a network partition ID, a virtual sub-network ID, and a private network IP address number segment to the virtual office.

Step 305: The TNMS feeds back the network partition ID, the virtual sub-network ID, and the corresponding IP number segment information to the NFVO.

Step 306, the NFVO constructs a virtual resource request description RRD. In the RRD, each VM is assigned an IP address, where the address is an address in the IP number segment described in step 305.

The steps 307 to 308 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 204 to 205, and are not described herein again.

Step 309: After the VM is successfully created, the NVFO notifies the TNMS to configure a network topology connection between the VMs.

The steps 310 to 316 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 206 to 212, and are not described herein again.

4 is a flowchart 3 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, this example describes a single data center, an OSS/EMS, and an NFVO scenario, and the NFVO function is implemented by the OSS/EMS. There is almost no difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The only difference is that the OSS/EMS directly produces the RRD. Therefore, the flow of the automatic loading method of the virtual network element in this example is not described here. For details, refer to the description of the process shown in Figure 1 above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 4 of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the application scenario of the example is a single data center, and the CMS and the TNMS are integrated, and the CMS completes network management. The difference in the example is that the OMU in the virtual network element automatically generates a virtual resource request description according to the office data configuration, and requests the NFVO to allocate the virtual resource. The present invention The virtual network element automatic loading method of the embodiment includes the following steps:

Step 501: The OSS/EMS sends a virtual office request to the NFVO, where the request may carry the established virtual office type.

Step 502: The NFVO creates an OMU virtual resource request description according to the module, and applies the virtual machine resource of the OMU to the CMS.

Step 503, the CMS allocates virtual machine resources required by the NFVO through the VMM, and feeds back VM related information, such as VM ID, VM IP address, physical calling address where the VM is located, and the like; Step 504, the NFVO returns to the OSS/EMS to establish a virtual office. Completed, carrying the IP address of the OMU virtual machine;

Step 505, the OSS/EMS establishes a TCP connection between the OMUs;

Step 506, the OSS/EMS boots the OMU to load its own software version, and then enters the virtual office data configuration;

Step 507, the OMU derives the virtual machine resources required by the virtual office according to the configuration data of the office, and constructs an RRD.

Step 508: The OMU requests the virtual office VNSF virtual machine resource from the NFVO.

Step 509 to step 510, the NFVO applies to the CMS for the VNSF virtual machine resource;

Step 511: After the OMU senses that the VNSF virtual machine it is responsible for is booted, the OMU boots the virtual machine to complete software version loading and data synchronization.

Step 512, the OMU completes the loading of the VNSF virtual machine, and senses that each virtual machine starts normally, and registers with the NFVO;

Step 513: Report the virtual network element status to the OSS/EMS.

Step 514, the OSS/EMS starts the virtual network element.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for automatically loading a virtual network element according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the scenario in this example is: The service provider combines the service function software into the virtual machine image file, and does not need to be separately installed. The virtual network element automatic loading method in the embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: Steps 601 to 602 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 201 to 202, and are not described herein again.

Step 603: The NFVO constructs a virtual resource request description (RRD) according to the network element resource information, where the RRD includes the required virtual machine (one VM ID corresponding to each virtual machine), and the name of the image file corresponding to the virtual machine and Address, and description of the hardware characteristics of the virtual machine, such as how many CPU cores are needed, the frequency of the main frequency, the memory, the size of the hard disk, the network bandwidth, and the like; Steps 604 to 605 are implemented in exactly the same manner as the foregoing Steps 204 to 205. I will not repeat them here;

Step 606, the NFVO constructs a virtual network function description (VNFD) for the virtual network function VNF, where the VNFD includes a list of virtual machines included in the VNF and a role played by the virtual machine, and logic between the sub-function modules. Relationship, etc., the role refers to a sub-function module that the VM is responsible for;

The steps 604 to 605 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 207 to 208, and are not described herein again.

Step 609: The OMU configures each virtual machine management configuration file according to the VNFD, so that the management unit address points to the OMU, so as to facilitate monitoring and management thereof later;

The steps 610 to 612 are implemented in the same manner as the foregoing steps 210 to 212, and are not described herein again.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 1 of a method for acquiring an IP address of a virtual machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, this embodiment mainly describes an IP number segment allocated by the NFVO according to the TNMS, for each step 701, NFVO. Apply to the TNMS for the virtual office to allocate partitions and subnets, and the application may carry the required number of IPs;

Step 702: The TNMS allocates a network partition ID and a subnet ID to the virtual office, and allocates a corresponding subnet IP number segment at the same time; Step 703: The TNMS feeds back the network partition ID, the subnet ID, and the subnet IP number segment to the NVFO.

Step 704, the NFVO constructs the RRD, and selects an IP address for each VM from the IP number segment of the subnet;

Step 705, the NFVO applies to the CMS for VM resources;

Step 706: The CMS allocates the virtual machine resource required by the NFVO through the VMM, and configures the IP address for the VM according to the specified in the RRD. After the configuration is successful, the VM resource is returned to the NFVO, and the return information includes the IP address corresponding to the VM, and the VM corresponds to the VM. Physical host information, location information of the VM, and so on.

FIG. 8 is a second flowchart of a method for acquiring a virtual machine IP address according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, this embodiment describes that a TNMS creates a virtual vDHCP server when receiving a request for a network partition and a subnet request, and The vDHCP server address is returned to NFVO. Step 801 is implemented in the same manner as the foregoing step 701, and details are not described herein again. Step 802: The TNMS creates a network fragment ID and a subnet ID for the virtual machine, and creates or associates a virtual vDHCP server for the virtual office.

Step 803, the TNMS returns the partition and subnet information to the NFVO, where the virtual vDHCP address is carried;

Step 804, the NFVO constructs the RRD, and the RRD carries the vDHCP address information. Step 805 is implemented in the same manner as the foregoing step 705, and details are not described herein again. Step 806: The CMS allocates virtual machine resources required by the NFVO through the VMM, and the VMM obtains the IP address of the VM from the vDHCP according to the vDHCP address in the RRD.

Step 807, the implementation manner is exactly the same as the foregoing step 707, and details are not described herein again. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Industrial applicability

The invention applies the corresponding hardware resources to the cloud management system according to the hardware resource planning, thereby forming a corresponding virtual network element in the communication system, and the virtual network element realizes the related function of setting the network element, thereby realizing the communication function of the communication system.

Claims

claims

1. A method for automatically loading virtual network elements, including:

The network function virtualization orchestrator applies to the cloud management system for the virtual machine resources that constitute the network element according to the operator's hardware resource planning for the network element;

The cloud management system starts the applied virtual machine;

The network element management system or the network function virtualization orchestrator generates a virtual network element description of the network element based on the applied virtual machine resource information, and provides the virtual network element description to the virtual machine list that serves as the network element operation management unit. The virtual machine sends a virtual network element description of each network element; the virtual network element description at least includes the following content: a list of virtual machines included in the virtual network element and the roles corresponding to each virtual machine;

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein before the network function virtualization orchestrator applies to the cloud management system for virtual machine resources constituting the network element according to the operator's hardware resource planning for the network element, the method further include:

The network function virtualization orchestrator receives the virtual office establishment request message from the operation support system and/or the network element management system, and obtains the required hardware resource description in the virtual office request message; the required hardware resource description at least includes the following content:

The sub-functional modules included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-functional module;

Description of hardware characteristics of each sub-functional module;

Performance and/or reliability levels.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying to the cloud management system for virtual machine resources constituting the network element includes: Source request description, apply to the cloud management system for required virtual machine resources according to the virtual resource request description;

The virtual resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machines;

Description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

A description of the operating system required for each required virtual machine.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the service module software provided by the service provider is included in the image file of the virtual machine, the virtual machine resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machines;

Description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

The image file name corresponding to each required virtual machine and the location of the image file.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes:

The network function virtualization orchestrator applies for the required virtual machine resources from the cloud management system, and when the transmission network management system is independent of the cloud management system, the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for all the required virtual machine resources from the transmission network management system. Describe the network partitions and subnets of the network element.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applied virtual machine resource information includes:

The virtual machine ID and its corresponding IP address.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual machine list at least includes: a virtual machine identifier and its corresponding IP address, and a role corresponding to each virtual machine; and the role corresponding to the virtual machine at least includes the roles that the virtual machine is responsible for. Function module; When the business software provided by the service provider requires additional installation, the role corresponding to the virtual machine contains the software version information that the virtual machine needs to install; the software version information includes the software version name, the address information where the software version is located, and Software installation footer Book.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network element operation management unit configures the virtual machine under the jurisdiction of the network element operation management unit according to the virtual network element description, including:

The network element operation management unit determines the virtual machine object to be managed according to the virtual network element description, and configures the management unit address in the management configuration file of the determined virtual machine, so that the configured management unit address points to the network element operation management unit;

Correspondingly, when the virtual machine needs to install software, the network element operation management unit guides each virtual machine to install the required software according to the description of the virtual network element.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after the network element operation management unit determines that the functional modules corresponding to each virtual machine under its jurisdiction are started normally, it sends the information of each virtual machine to the network function virtualization orchestrator. To register.

10. A method for automatically loading virtual network elements, including:

The operation support system and/or the network element management system notifies the network function virtualization orchestrator to create virtual resources of the network element operation management unit;

The network element operation management unit generates a virtual resource request description according to the network element data configuration, creates the required virtual machine resources to the network function virtualization orchestrator, and after the creation is completed, manages the network elements according to the network element configuration information. virtual machine.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the operation support system and/or the network element management system notifies the network function virtualization orchestrator to create virtual resources of the network element operation management unit, including:

After receiving the virtual office establishment request from the operation support system and/or network element management system, the network function virtualization orchestrator constructs a virtual machine resource request description required by the network element operation management unit of the virtual network element, and determines When the transmission network management system and the cloud management system are separated, the transmission network management system Apply for partitions and subnetworks from the network management system, and apply for virtual resources from the cloud management system.

12. A method for obtaining a virtual machine IP address, including:

When the transmission network management system receives a request from the network function virtualization orchestrator to apply for network partitions and subnets, it allocates IP address segments to the partitions and subnets;

When the cloud management system receives a request for virtual resources from the network function virtualization orchestrator, it sets a corresponding IP address for each virtual machine based on the IP number segment assigned by the transmission network management system.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further includes:

After the transmission network management system allocates a subnet IP address segment, it sends the segment number to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, when the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for virtual machine resources from the cloud management system, it formulates an IP address for each virtual machine.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further includes:

When the transmission network management system receives a request to apply for a network partition and a subnet, it creates or associates a virtual dynamic host setting corresponding to the virtual dynamic host setting protocol DHCP service for the partition and subnet, and the network function virtualization orchestrator reports to the cloud management When the system applies for virtual machine resources, it carries the address information of the virtual DHCP server; when the cloud management system creates a virtual machine, it obtains an IP address from the virtual DHCP server.

15. A virtual network element automatic loading system, including a network function virtualization orchestrator, a cloud management system, a network element management system and a network element operation management unit, wherein:

The network function virtualization orchestrator is used to apply to the cloud management system for the virtual machine resources that constitute the network element according to the operator's hardware resource planning for the network element;

The cloud management system is used to allocate and start the applied virtual machine;

The network element management system or the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to generate a virtual network element description of the network element based on the applied virtual machine resource information after starting the applied virtual machine, and sends the virtual network element description of each network element to the virtual machine in the virtual machine list that serves as the network element operation management unit; the virtual network element description at least includes the following content: the virtual machine list included in the virtual network element and each The role corresponding to the virtual machine;

The network element operation management unit is used to configure virtual machines managed by the network element operation management unit according to the virtual network element description.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system further includes an operation support system and/or a network element management system;

The network function virtualization orchestrator is also configured to receive a virtual office establishment request message from the operation support system and/or network element management system, and obtain the required hardware resource description in the virtual office request message;

The required hardware resource description contains at least the following:

The sub-functional modules included in the network element;

Software information corresponding to each sub-functional module;

Description of hardware characteristics of each sub-functional module;

Performance and/or reliability levels.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein,

The network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to generate a virtual resource request description according to the hardware resource planning of the network element, and apply for required virtual machine resources from the cloud management system according to the virtual resource request description;

The virtual resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machines;

Description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

18. The system of claim 17, wherein,

When the service module software provided by the service provider is included in the image file of the virtual machine, The virtual machine resource request description includes the following content:

Required virtual machines;

Description of the hardware characteristics of each required virtual machine;

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system further includes: a transmission network management system, the transmission network management system being independent of the cloud management system;

When the network function virtualization orchestrator applies for required virtual machine resources from the cloud management system, it applies to the transmission network management system for the network partition and subnet of the network element.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein,

The applied virtual machine resource information includes: virtual machine identification and its corresponding IP address; the virtual machine list at least includes: the virtual machine identification and its corresponding IP address, and the role corresponding to each virtual machine; the virtual machine corresponding The role of the virtual machine at least includes the functional modules that the virtual machine is responsible for; when the business software provided by the service provider requires additional installation, the role corresponding to the virtual machine includes the software version information that the virtual machine needs to install; the software version information includes the software version Name, address information where the software version is located, and software installation script.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein,

The network element operation management unit is also used to determine the virtual machine object to be managed according to the virtual network element description, and configure the management unit address in the management configuration file of the determined virtual machine, so that the configured management unit address points to the virtual machine object. The network element operation management unit;

Correspondingly, when the virtual machine needs to install software, the network element operation management unit is also used to guide each virtual machine to install the required software according to the virtual network element description.

22. A virtual network element automatic loading system, including: an operation support system and/or a network element management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator and a network element operation management unit, wherein:

The operation support system and/or the network element management system are used to notify the network function virtualization orchestrator to create virtual resources of the network element operation management unit; establish a connection with the network element operation management unit, and perform network element data configuration on the network element operation management unit;

The network element operation management unit is configured to generate a virtual resource request description according to the network element data configuration, create the required virtual machine resources to the network function virtualization orchestrator, and after the creation is completed, manage the configuration according to the network element configuration information The virtual machine of the network element.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein,

The network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to construct a virtual machine resource request description required by the network element operation management unit of the virtual network element after receiving a virtual office establishment request from the operation support system and/or network element management system, And when it is determined that the transmission network management system and the cloud management system are separated, apply for partitions and subnetworks from the transmission network management system, and apply for virtual resources from the cloud management system.

24. A virtual machine IP address acquisition system, including: a transmission network management system, a network function virtualization orchestrator and a cloud management system, wherein:

The transmission network management system is configured to allocate IP address segments to the partitions and subnets when receiving requests from the network function virtualization orchestrator to apply for network partitions and subnets;

The cloud management system is configured to set a corresponding IP address for each virtual machine according to the IP number segment allocated by the transmission network management system when receiving a virtual resource application request from the network function virtualization orchestrator.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein,

The transmission network management system is used to allocate a subnet IP address segment and send the segment to the network function virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to specify an IP address for each virtual machine when applying for virtual machine resources from the cloud management system.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the system further includes: a virtual dynamic host setting virtual dynamic host setting protocol DHCP server;

The transmission network management system is also configured to create or associate a virtual DHCP server for the partition and subnet when receiving a request to apply for a network partition and subnet, and transfer the virtual DHCP server to the sending the server address to the network functions virtualization orchestrator;

Correspondingly, the network function virtualization orchestrator is configured to carry the address information of the virtual DHCP server when applying for virtual machine resources from the cloud management system;

The cloud management system is configured to obtain an IP address from the virtual DHCP server when creating a virtual machine.

27. A storage medium, in which a computer program is stored, and the computer program is configured to execute the virtual network element automatic loading method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or to execute the method according to claim 10 or 11. The automatic loading method of virtual network elements described above.

28. A storage medium, a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and the computer program is configured to execute the virtual machine IP address acquisition method described in any one of claims 12 to 14.