WO2017128820A1

WO2017128820A1 - Virtualized network function management method, network device and system

Info

Publication number: WO2017128820A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/106453
Authority: WO
Inventors: 祝伟宏
Original assignee: 中兴通讯股份有限公司
Priority date: 2016-01-25
Filing date: 2016-11-18
Publication date: 2017-08-03
Also published as: CN106998560A

Abstract

Disclosed are a virtualized network function management method, a network device and a system. The method comprises: receiving a management request, sent by a network side, regarding a virtualized network function instance, wherein the management request at least comprises enabling and/or disabling an auto-scaling function of the virtualized network function instance; performing processing based on the management request to obtain a processing result; and feeding the processing result back to the network side.

Description

Management method, network device and system for virtualized network function

Technical field

The present invention relates to a processing technology in the field of communications, and in particular, to a method, a network device, and a system for managing a virtualized network function.

Background technique

In the field of wireless communication system management, the interface between the Network Management System (NMS) and the Element Management System (EMS) is called the northbound interface (Itf-N). EMS mainly completes the network element management layer (EML) function in the International Telecommunication Union-ITU (Telecommunications Management Network-TMN), that is, completes the management functions of one or more mobile communication devices, usually different devices. EMS between vendors cannot be universal. The NMS mainly performs the network management layer (NML) function in the ITU TMN and is responsible for the management of all network elements in a managed network. In the case of multiple device vendors in a managed network (called a subnet), the entire subnet can be managed through its own EMS management.

At present, in order to improve the flexibility of the communication network and reduce the management cost, the operator proposes the concept of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). In the case of using NFV technology, the original physical network element device is virtualized. The virtualized network function (VNF) is used to decouple the network function from the specific hardware. One of the advantages of the virtualization of the network function is that the VNF instance that constitutes the network service can be dynamically adjusted as the usage of the network changes. The resource used is to scale the VNF instance to provide resource utilization and achieve energy saving. For the automatic triggering of VNF instance scaling, there are currently various schemes, which can be determined by the automatic scaling function module of the VNF instance itself according to its own performance, or by the VNF on the Virtualized Network Function Manager (VNFM). The auto-scaling function module determines whether or not to use the performance data of the VNF instance and related resources. The VNF instance can be scaled. The VNF auto-scaling function module on the EMS can determine whether to scale the VNF instance according to the performance data of the VNF. At the NMS level, the VNF auto-scaling function module located on the NMS is based on the VNF. The performance data determines whether or not to scale the VNF instance. In this way, when different levels of VNF instance auto-scaling function modules are working, conflicts may occur. In addition, when the system is expanding the system, the expansion of the network service or the expansion of the VNF is generally performed first, but the traffic may not come up at once. In this case, if the automatic scaling function is running, the operator may perform the operation in advance. The expansion has been automatically reduced, so that when the business volume comes up, it has to be re-expanded, resulting in unnecessary waste. In addition, when preparing emergency plans for major events (such as ball games, concerts, etc.), temporary expansion will also be carried out. Such expansion needs to be guaranteed not to be automatically retracted.

Summary of the invention

In view of this, the embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a network device, and a system for managing a virtualized network function, which can solve at least the above problems in the prior art.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is achieved as follows:

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing a virtualized network function, where the method includes:

Receiving a management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Processing based on the management request, and obtaining a processing result;

The processing result is fed back to the network side.

And sending, to the network device, a management request for the virtual network function instance, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Receiving a processing result obtained by the network device based on the management request processing.

The embodiment of the invention provides a network device, including:

The information receiving unit is configured to receive a management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

a processing unit, configured to perform processing based on the management request, to obtain a processing result;

And an information sending unit, configured to feed back the processing result to the network side.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a management system for a virtualized network function, where the system includes:

a sending unit, configured to send a management request for the virtual network function instance to the network device, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

And a receiving unit, configured to receive, by the network device, a processing result that is obtained by processing according to the management request.

The management method, the network device and the system for the virtualized network function provided by the present invention receive the management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side; the processing is performed based on the management request, and the processing result is obtained; The result is fed back to the network side. In this way, it is possible to perform operations such as switching or time switching on the network service instance or the VNF instance automatic scaling function module as needed to avoid conflicts.

DRAWINGS

1 is a schematic flowchart 1 of a method for managing a virtualized network function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a second schematic flowchart of a method for managing a virtualized network function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic structural diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic flowchart 1 of a scenario of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart 2 of a scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart 3 of a scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a system structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

Embodiment 1

The embodiment of the invention provides a method for managing a virtualized network function, which is applied to a network device, as shown in FIG. 1 , and includes:

Step 101: Receive a management request for a virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting a virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Step 102: Perform processing according to the management request, and obtain a processing result;

Step 103: Feed back the processing result to the network side.

The management request further includes a time parameter;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

Setting a point in time at which the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance is stopped or started;

Setting a time period for stopping or starting the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance; wherein the time period includes a first time point and a second time point, where the first time point starts with the time period Time, the second time point is a time at which the time period ends;

The automatic scaling function is performed between the current time and the third time point, wherein the performing the automatic scaling function is a capacity expansion operation or a reduction operation. For example, you can stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function at a certain point in time; set the period to stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function from time point 1 to time point 2; you can set the time from the current start to the future. Point 3 can only be expanded or reduced.

The processing is performed based on the management request, including:

The virtual network function instance is processed based on the time parameter.

The processing of the virtualized network function instance based on the management request may be performed when the VNFM performs the management of the VNF instance automatic scaling function, based on the time parameter. Reason.

The scaling of the VNF instance here includes scale out or scale up and scale in or scale down.

Among them, the expansion includes two cases:

Scale out: when the VNF is composed of multiple Virtualization Deployment Uni-VDUs, the VDU instances that make up the VNF instance are added to increase the capability of the VNF instance.

Scale up: increase the configuration of a virtual machine (VM) running a VNF instance, such as adding CPU, memory, network ports, etc., to increase the capabilities of the VNF instance;

Similarly, shrinkage also includes two situations:

Scale in: when the VNF is composed of multiple VDUs, reduce the VDU instances that make up the VNF instance to reduce the ability of the VNF instance;

Scale down: reduce the configuration of VMs running VNF instances, such as reducing CPU, memory, network ports, etc., to reduce the ability of VNF instances;

The scaling of Network Service-NS is achieved by increasing or decreasing the VNF instance.

It can be seen that, by adopting the foregoing solution, the management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side can be received; processing is performed based on the management request, and the processing result is obtained; and the processing result is fed back to the network side. In this way, it is possible to perform operations such as switching or timing switching on the network service instance or the VNF instance automatic scaling function module as needed to avoid conflicts, thereby providing a simple and easy solution for solving the above conflict problem.

Embodiment 2

The embodiment of the present invention further provides a method for managing a virtualized network function, which is applied to the network side. As shown in FIG. 2, the method includes:

Step 201: Send a management request for the virtual network function instance to the network device, where The management request includes at least: stopping and/or starting a virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Step 202: Receive a processing result that is sent by the network device based on the management request processing.

The above management request also includes a time parameter;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

The automatic scaling function is performed between the current time and the third time point, wherein the performing the automatic scaling function is a capacity expansion operation or a reduction operation.

The network side includes at least one of the following:

Virtual network function manager, network management system, network element management system, virtual network function orchestrator, and operation support system.

As shown in Figure 3, the VNF is isolated from the underlying Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI). For the management of VNF, the traditional maintenance management function of the VNF instance is performed by the EMS, and the life cycle management function of the VNF is completed by the VNF manager VNFM. The underlying virtual infrastructure is managed by the Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM). The specific network service is generally completed by one or more VNF instances. The management of the network service is carried out by the NFV arranger NFVO. After the virtualization of the network function is implemented, from the application level, when a network service instance is to be established, it is necessary to form an instance of the VNF required by the network service, and then one or more VNF instances form a network service instance, through the network service instance. To provide network services.

Embodiment 3

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

scene 1:

Assume that the network device receives the management request for the VNF instance auto-scaling function that is sent by the EMS to the VNFM, where the management request includes, but is not limited to, stopping/starting the VNF instance auto-scaling function; or

The automatic scaling function can only be expanded or only reduced;

Further, the method includes: the EMS sends a time parameter to the VNFM, such as:

You can stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function at a certain point in time;

You can set to stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function from time 1 to time 2;

It can be set to expand or shrink only at a certain point in time from the current start until the future.

The VNFM performs management on the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance. If the time parameter is set, the specified operation is performed at the corresponding time point;

The VNFM reports to the EMS that the management operation of the VNF instance auto-scaling function is completed.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment describes a method for managing a virtualized network function, and the steps are as follows:

The VNFM receives the request for managing the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance delivered by the EMS. The parameters of the request include, but are not limited to, one of the following: a unique identifier of the VNF instance, a type of management operation, a time or a time range in which the management operation is performed; Operation type parameters, including but not limited to: Stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function; or, set the auto-scaling function to expand or only shrink.

Wherein, for the time or time range parameter of the management operation execution, the time for starting the execution of the management operation or the time range for maintaining the management operation result may be set, such as at least one of the following:

Scene 2:

The difference from scenario 1 is that the management request for automatic scaling of the virtualized network function can also be sent by the NMS. The process is as follows:

The NMS sends a request to the EMS to manage the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance; including but not limited to:

Stop/start the VNF instance auto-scaling function; or

Setting the auto-scaling function can only be expanded or only reduced.

The above operation can set the time to start and/or end execution, such as:

It can be set to expand or shrink only at a certain point in time from the current time until the future;

The EMS forwards the received request to the VNFM;

The VNFM receives a request for managing the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance delivered by the EMS.

The EMS returns a message to the NMS that the management operation of the VNF instance auto-scaling function is completed;

Specifically, this embodiment is directed to a method for managing a virtualized network function, and how to specifically stop the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance running on the VNFM, as shown in FIG. 4, the steps are as follows:

The VNFM receives the request for stopping the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance issued by the EMS; the request parameters are: VNF unique identifier = 001, management operation type = stop VNF instance automatic scaling function;

VNFM stops running the VNF instance auto-scaling function in VNFM;

The VNFM returns a message to the EMS to stop the automatic expansion of the VNF instance.

Scene 3:

Further, when the scenario provided in this embodiment is to manage the automatic scaling function located in the VNF, the process of the method is as follows:

The EMS receives the request for managing the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance delivered by the NMS, including but not limited to:

Stop/start the VNF instance auto-scaling function; or set the auto-scaling function to expand or only shrink.

The above operation can set the time to start and/or end execution, such as:

The EMS forwards the received request to the corresponding VNF instance;

The VNF instance receives the request for management by the automatic scaling function delivered by the EMS, and performs management of the automatic scaling function.

The VNF reports to the EMS that the management of the automatic scaling function is completed.

The EMS reports to the NMS that the management of the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance is completed.

Specifically, in this embodiment, a scenario in which the VNF instance auto-scaling function of the VNFM is started in a virtualized network function management manner is as shown in FIG. 5, and the steps are as follows:

The VNFM receives the request for starting the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance issued by the EMS. The request parameters are: VNF unique identifier = 001, management operation type = automatic VNF instance auto-scaling function, operation time point = 10AM date;

The VNFM starts the dynamic scaling function of the VNFM running on the VNF instance when the operating time point arrives;

The VNFM returns a message to the EMS to start the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance.

Scene 4:

Further, the automatic extension function of the scenario description management provided in this embodiment in the VNF can also be directly initiated by the EMS, and the process is as follows:

The VNF instance receives the request for management by the automatic scaling function delivered by the EMS, and performs management of the automatic scaling function; the request includes but is not limited to:

The above operation can set the time to start and/or end execution, such as:

Specifically, a management method for automatically scaling a virtualized network function (initiated by an NMS), As shown in Figure 6, the steps are as follows:

The NMS sends a request to the EMS to manage the VNF instance auto-scaling function. The request parameters include, but are not limited to, the type parameter indicating the specific operation (such as setting the auto-scaling function only), and the unique VNF instance to manage the auto-scaling function. The identifier (such as VNFInstanceID) and the time range of the operation (such as 7PM-11PM, that is, the automatic scaling function can only be expanded at 7:00 pm, and the automatic scaling function can be expanded and reduced at 11:00 pm);

The EMS forwards the received request to the VNFM;

The VNFM performs management of the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance according to the parameters of the received request.

The VNFM reports to the EMS that the management of the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance is completed.

The EMS reports to the NMS that the management of the VNF instance auto-scaling function is completed.

Scene 5:

When NFVO has the automatic scaling function of network services, OSS/NMS can also manage the automatic scaling function of NFVO's network services. The process is as follows:

The OSS/NMS sends a request to the NFVO to manage the automatic scaling function of the NS instance; including but not limited to:

Stop/start the automatic scaling function of the NS instance; or set the automatic scaling function to expand or only shrink.

The above operation can set the time to start and/or end execution, such as:

You can stop or start the NS instance auto-scaling function at a certain point in time;

You can set to stop or start the NS instance auto-scaling function from the time point 1 to the time point 2;

It can be set to expand or shrink only at a certain point in time from the current time until the future. Capacity

The NFVO receives a request for managing the automatic scaling function of the NS instance delivered by the OSS/NMS;

The NFVO performs management on the automatic scaling function of the NS instance. If the time parameter is set, the specified operation is performed at the corresponding time point;

The NFVO reports to the OSS/NMS the completion of the management operation of the automatic scaling function of the NS instance;

Specifically, a management method for automatically scaling a virtualized network function (initiated by the NMS to manage the VNF) is as follows:

The EMS receives the request for managing the automatic scaling function on the VNF instance delivered by the NMS. The request parameters include, but are not limited to, the management operation type (such as stopping the automatic scaling function), and the unique identifier of the VNF instance to manage the automatic scaling function (for example, VNFInstanceID), the time range of the operation (such as 7PM-11PM, that is, the automatic retraction function is stopped at 7:00 pm, and the automatic retraction function is restarted at 11:00 pm);

The EMS forwards the received request to the corresponding VNF instance;

The VNF instance receives the request for managing the automatic scaling function delivered by the EMS.

The VNF performs management operations on the automatic scaling function;

The VNF reports to the EMS that the automatic scaling function management operation is completed.

The EMS reports to the NMS that the VNF instance auto-scaling function management operation is completed.

Scenario 6: A management method for automatically scaling network services that includes virtualized network functions. The steps are as follows:

The OSS/NMS sends a request to the NFVO to manage the automatic scaling function of the NS instance; the request parameters include but are not limited to:

Unique identifier of the NS instance, such as NSId=001;

Management operation type: Stop the automatic scaling function of the NS instance.

The management operation time range: for example, 7PM-11PM, the NS instance automatic scaling function is stopped at 7:00 pm, and the NS instance automatic scaling function is restarted at 11:00 pm;

Scenario 7: A management method for automatic scaling of network services that includes virtualized network functions. The steps are as follows:

Unique identifier of the NS instance, such as NSId=001;

Management operation type: setting the automatic scaling function can only be expanded;

Management operation time range: For example, 7PM-11PM, the automatic scaling function can be expanded at 7:00 pm, and the automatic scaling function of the NS instance can be restored at 11:00 in the evening to expand and shrink.

Scenario 8: A management method for automatic scaling of virtualized network functions (initiated by NMS, set The freezing period), the steps are as follows:

The NMS sends a request to the EMS to manage the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance. The request parameters include, but are not limited to, a type parameter indicating a specific operation (here, setting a freezing period), and a unique identifier of a VNF instance to manage the automatic scaling function ( Such as VNFInstanceID), the length of the freezing period (that is, after the automatic expansion function is completed, the automatic expansion function can not be performed within the set freezing period length);

The EMS forwards the received request to the VNFM;

Scenario 9: A management method for automatic scaling of virtualized network functions (initiated by NMS or OSS), the steps are as follows:

The NMS/OSS sends a management request to the NFVO for the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance, where the parameters of the management request include, but are not limited to, one of the following: a unique identifier of the VNF instance, a type of the management operation, and a time for the management operation to be performed. Or the time range; for the management operation type parameters, including but not limited to: stop or start the VNF instance auto-scaling function; or, set the auto-scaling function to expand or only shrink.

Further, the method includes: a request for management of an automatic scaling function of the VNF instance by the NFVO to the VNFM, and the requested parameter is the same as the parameter of the foregoing step;

The VNFM reports to the NFVO that the management operation of the automatic scaling function of the VNF instance is completed;

The NFVO reports to the NMS/OSS that the management operation of the VNF instance auto-scaling function is completed;

Embodiment 4

An embodiment of the present invention provides a network device, as shown in FIG. 7, including:

The information receiving unit 71 is configured to receive a management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

The processing unit 72 is configured to perform processing according to the management request, and obtain a processing result;

The information sending unit 73 is configured to feed back the processing result to the network side.

The information receiving unit is further configured to receive a time parameter sent by the network side;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

The processing unit is configured to perform the virtual network function instance based on the time parameter deal with.

Embodiment 5

The embodiment of the invention further provides a management system for virtualizing network functions. As shown in FIG. 8, the system includes:

The sending unit 81 is configured to send a management request for the virtual network function instance to the network device, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

The receiving unit 82 is configured to receive a processing result that is sent by the network device and is processed according to the management request.

The network device is a virtualized network device, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide virtual network function instances and/or virtual network function management in the form of software.

The sending unit is configured to send a time parameter to the network device;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

The sending unit and the receiving unit are disposed in at least one of the following: a network management system, a network element management system, a virtual network function orchestrator, and an operation support system.

The embodiment of the present invention may further provide a computer storage medium, the storage medium comprising a set of instructions, when executed, causing at least one processor to perform operations including:

Processing based on the management request, and obtaining a processing result;

The processing result is fed back to the network side.

In the several embodiments provided by the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the unit is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be another division manner, such as: multiple units or components may be combined, or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, or direct coupling, or communication connection of the components shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and may be electrical, mechanical or other forms. of.

The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as the unit may or may not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units; Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present invention may be integrated into one processing module, or each unit may be separately used as one unit, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit; the above integration The unit can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

A person skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the steps of implementing the above method embodiments can be completed by using hardware related to the program instructions, and the foregoing program can be stored in one meter. The computer can read the storage medium, and when executed, the program executes the steps including the foregoing method embodiments; and the foregoing storage medium includes: a mobile storage device, a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access. A medium that can store program code, such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a disk, or an optical disk.

The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present invention. It should be covered by the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Industrial applicability

The embodiment of the invention discloses a method for managing a virtualized network function, a network device and a system, and receives a management request for a virtual network function instance sent by the network side; processing is performed based on the management request, and a processing result is obtained; The processing result is fed back to the network side. In this way, it is possible to perform operations such as switching or time switching on the network service instance or the VNF instance automatic scaling function module as needed to avoid conflicts.

Claims

A method for managing a virtualized network function, the method comprising:

Receiving a management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Processing based on the management request, and obtaining a processing result;

The processing result is fed back to the network side.
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: receiving a time parameter sent by the network side;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

Setting a point in time at which the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance is stopped or started;

Setting a time period for stopping or starting the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance; wherein the time period includes a first time point and a second time point, where the first time point starts with the time period Time, the second time point is a time at which the time period ends;

The automatic scaling function is performed between the current time and the third time point, wherein the automatic scaling function is a capacity expansion operation or a reduction operation.
The method of claim 2, wherein the processing based on the management request comprises:

The virtual network function instance is processed based on the time parameter.
A method for managing a virtualized network function is applied to a network side, and the method includes:

And sending, to the network device, a management request for the virtual network function instance, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

Receiving a processing result obtained by the network device based on the management request processing.
The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises: transmitting a time parameter to the network device;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

Setting a point in time at which the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance is stopped or started;

Setting a time period for stopping or starting the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance; wherein the time period includes a first time point and a second time point, where the first time point starts with the time period Time, the second time point is a time at which the time period ends;

The automatic scaling function is performed between the current time and the third time point, wherein the automatic scaling function is a capacity expansion operation or a reduction operation.
The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the network side comprises at least one of the following:

Network management system, network element management system, virtual network function orchestrator, and operation support system.
A network device, including:

The information receiving unit is configured to receive a management request for the virtual network function instance sent by the network side, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

a processing unit configured to perform processing based on the management request to obtain a processing result;

The information sending unit is configured to feed back the processing result to the network side.
The network device of claim 7, wherein the network device is a virtualized network device, wherein the processing unit is configured to provide virtual network function instances and/or virtual network function management in the form of software.
The network device according to claim 8, wherein the information receiving unit is further configured to receive a time parameter sent by the network side;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

Setting a point in time at which the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance is stopped or started;

Setting a time period for stopping or starting the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance; wherein the time period includes a first time point and a second time point, where the first time point is a time at which the time period begins, and the second time point is a time at which the time period ends;

The automatic scaling function is performed between the current time and the third time point, wherein the automatic scaling function is a capacity expansion operation or a reduction operation.
The network device of claim 9, wherein the processing unit is configured to process the virtual network function instance based on the time parameter.
A management system for virtualizing network functions, the system comprising:

The sending unit is configured to send a management request for the virtual network function instance to the network device, where the management request includes: stopping and/or starting the virtual network function instance automatic scaling function;

The receiving unit is configured to receive a processing result that is sent by the network device based on the management request processing.
The system according to claim 11, wherein the sending unit is configured to send a time parameter to the network device;

Wherein, the time parameter includes one of the following:

Setting a point in time at which the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance is stopped or started;

Setting a time period for stopping or starting the automatic scaling function of the virtual network function instance; wherein the time period includes a first time point and a second time point, where the first time point starts with the time period Time, the second time point is a time at which the time period ends;

The automatic scaling function is performed from the current start until the third time point, wherein the automatic scaling function is performed to enable only the expansion operation or only the reduction operation.
The system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are disposed in at least one of the following: a network management system, a network element management system, a virtual network function orchestrator, and an operation support system.