CN107005434B

CN107005434B - Method, device and equipment for synchronizing Virtual Network Function (VNF) state

Info

Publication number: CN107005434B
Application number: CN201580065544.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杨旭
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honor Device Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-05-15
Filing date: 2015-05-15
Publication date: 2020-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-15
Also published as: WO2016183735A1; CN107005434A

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for synchronizing a VNF state, which are used for realizing the synchronization of the VNF state between a VNF and a VNFM and avoiding management faults caused by the asynchronous VNF state. The method for synchronizing the VNF state on the VNFM side comprises the following steps: the method comprises the steps that a VNFM receives a first VNF state sent by a VNF, wherein the first VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF; the VNFM obtaining a second VNF state, wherein the second VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM; the VNFM synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states. The method for synchronizing the VNF state on the VNF side comprises the following steps: the VNF receives a state query request sent by the VNFM; the VNF sends a first VNF state to the VNFM.

Description

Method, device and equipment for synchronizing Virtual Network Function (VNF) state

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states of virtual network functions.

Background

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) refers to implementing partial Network functions in a general high-performance server, switch, and storage by using a Virtualization technology.

The NFV end-to-end architecture defined in the current standard mainly includes three parts: virtual Network Function (VNF), NFV Infrastructure (NFV Infrastructure) and Management and Orchestration (MANO). VNFs are used to virtualize physical network functions, capabilities, interfaces, etc. in legacy networks. NFVI provides the resources for the entire NFV system to run. An NFV Orchestrator (NFV editor, NFVO) in the MANO is responsible for lifecycle management of a network service (NS, a service unit composed of multiple VNFs), and orchestration and management of resources of the entire NFV system. The VNF Manager (english: VNF Manager; abbreviated: VNFM) is responsible for managing the VNF lifecycle.

During operation, the VNF records its own status. The VNFM records and maintains the state of the VNF according to information provided by the vendor, instructions executed by the VNFM, participating events, and the like. The VNFM provides the recorded and maintained VNF status to the NFVO and Operation Support System (OSS).

However, in the prior art, the recorded VNF states of the VNF and the VNFM may not be synchronized, which may result in a management failure of the NFV system. For example, the VNF is in a failure state, but the VNF state of the VNFM records is an idle state. Then it is very likely that the VNF will reject the operation or have an operation anomaly, assuming that the VNFM performs a query operation on the VNF.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a method, a device and equipment for synchronizing a VNF state, which are used for synchronizing the VNF state between a VNF and a VNFM and avoiding management faults caused by asynchronous VNF states.

A first aspect of the present application provides a method for synchronizing VNF states of virtual network functions, including:

a Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) receives a first VNF state sent by a VNF, wherein the first VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

the VNFM obtaining a second VNF state, wherein the second VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

the VNFM synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the synchronizing, by the VNFM, the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF state and the second VNF state includes:

the VNFM determining whether the first VNF state and the second VNF state are consistent;

the VNFM maintaining the recorded second VNF state when the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state;

when the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, the VNFM determines the true state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and synchronizes the recorded VNF state according to the true state, where the true state is the first VNF state or the second VNF state.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, synchronizing the recorded VNF states according to the real state includes:

when the first VNF state is the real state, the VNFM modifies the second VNF state to the first VNF state; or

When the second VNF state is the true state, the VNFM notifying the VNF of modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, after the VNFM notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the method further includes:

when execution feedback sent by the VNF and representing that the VNF has completed modification is not received, the VNFM resynchronizes the VNF state or restarts the VNF according to a preset strategy.

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining the real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state includes:

and the VNFM takes the VNF state recorded corresponding to the timestamp closest to the current time point in the timestamps of recording the first VNF state and the second VNF state as the real state.

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the determining the real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state includes:

the VNFM sending the first VNF state and the second VNF state to a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO);

receiving a VNF state which is returned by the NFVO and is recorded in correspondence to a timestamp closest to a current time point in timestamps of the timestamp for recording the first VNF state and the timestamp for recording the second VNF state;

the VNFM takes the received VNF state as the true state.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect or the fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, after determining that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, the method further includes:

the VNFM sending, to the NFVO, a state out-of-sync notification indicating that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the first aspect, after maintaining the second VNF state, the method further includes:

the VNFM update records a timestamp of the second VNF state.

With reference to the first aspect or any one of the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect to the seventh possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in an eighth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, before the virtual network function manager VNFM receives the first VNF state sent by the virtual network function VNF, the method further includes:

the VNFM sends a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

the virtual network function manager VNFM receives a first VNF state sent by a virtual network function VNF, including:

the VNFM receives the first VNF state sent by the VNF through the preset interface;

wherein the preset interface is a state management dedicated interface or a general interface between the VNFM and the VNF.

A second aspect of the present application provides a method for synchronizing VNF states, including:

the VNF receives a state query request sent by the VNFM;

the VNF sends a first VNF state to the VNFM, wherein the first VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, after the VNF sends the first VNF status to the VNFM, the method further includes:

receiving a notification sent by the VNFM that characterizes the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

based on the notification, the VNF modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state;

after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the VNF sends execution feedback to the VNFM.

With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the receiving, by the VNF, a status query request sent by the VNFM includes:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the VNF sending, to the VNFM, a first VNF state of the VNF record, including:

the VNF sends the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

A third aspect of the present application provides an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, including:

a first receiving unit, configured to receive a first VNF state sent by a VNF, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

an obtaining unit, configured to obtain a second VNF state, where the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by a VNFM;

a synchronization unit, configured to synchronize the recorded VNF statuses according to the first VNF status and the second VNF status.

With reference to the third aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the synchronization unit is configured to:

determining whether the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state; maintaining the second VNF state logged when the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state; when the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, determining the real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and synchronizing the recorded VNF states according to the real state, wherein the real state is the first VNF state or the second VNF state.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the synchronization unit is configured to:

modifying the second VNF state to the first VNF state when the first VNF state is the real state; or when the second VNF state is the real state, notifying the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the apparatus further includes:

a resynchronization or restart unit, configured to, after the synchronization unit notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state, resynchronize the VNF state or restart the VNF according to a preset policy when an execution feedback, which is sent by the VNF and indicates that the VNF has completed modification, is not received.

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the synchronization unit is configured to:

and according to the VNF state recorded corresponding to the timestamp closest to the current time point in the timestamps of recording the first VNF state and the second VNF state, taking the VNF state as the real state.

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the synchronization unit is configured to:

sending the first VNF state and the second VNF state to the NFVO; receiving a VNF state which is returned by the NFVO and is recorded in correspondence to a timestamp closest to a current time point in timestamps of the timestamp for recording the first VNF state and the timestamp for recording the second VNF state; the received VNF state is taken as the real state.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of the third aspect or the fifth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the apparatus further includes a state out-of-synchronization notification unit, configured to send, to the NFVO, a state out-of-synchronization notification that indicates that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the apparatus further includes:

a second VNF status updating unit, configured to update a timestamp recording the second VNF status after maintaining the second VNF status.

With reference to the third aspect or any one of the first possible implementation manner to the seventh possible implementation manner of the third aspect, in an eighth possible implementation manner of the third aspect, the apparatus further includes:

the first sending unit is used for sending a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface before the first receiving unit receives the first VNF state sent by the VNF;

the first receiving unit is configured to receive, through the preset interface, the first VNF status sent by the VNF;

A fourth aspect of the present application provides an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, including:

a second receiving unit, configured to receive a status query request sent by the VNFM;

a second sending unit, configured to send a first VNF state to the VNFM, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF.

With reference to the fourth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the apparatus further includes:

a receiving notification unit, configured to receive, after the second sending unit sends the first VNF state to the VNFM, a notification sent by the VNFM and indicating that the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM; based on the notification, the VNF modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state; after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the VNF sends execution feedback to the VNFM.

With reference to the fourth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the second receiving unit is configured to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the second sending unit is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

A fifth aspect of the present application provides an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, including:

a receiver, configured to receive a first VNF state sent by a VNF, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

a processor configured to obtain a second VNF state, where the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by a VNFM; synchronizing the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states.

With reference to the fifth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is configured to:

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is configured to:

modifying the second VNF state to the first VNF state when the first VNF state is the real state; or when the second VNF state is the real state, notifying, by a transmitter of the electronic device, the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to:

after notifying the VNF of modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state through the transmitter, when execution feedback sent by the VNF and representing that the VNF has completed modification is not received, the VNF state is resynchronized or the VNF is restarted according to a preset strategy.

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is configured to:

With reference to any one of the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect to the third possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transmitter is configured to:

sending the first VNF state and the second VNF state to the NFVO;

the receiver is configured to receive, from the NFVO, a VNF state recorded in correspondence to a timestamp closest to a current time point, of the timestamp for recording the first VNF state and the timestamp for recording the second VNF state;

the processor is configured to treat the received VNF state as the real state.

With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect or the fifth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transmitter is further configured to:

after determining that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, sending, to the NFVO, a state out-of-synchronization notification indicating that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state.

With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the processor is further configured to:

updating a timestamp recording the second VNF state after maintaining the second VNF state.

With reference to the fifth aspect or any one of the first possible implementation manner to the seventh possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in an eighth possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the transmitter is further configured to:

before the receiver receives a first VNF state sent by a Virtual Network Function (VNF), sending a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

the receiver is configured to receive, through the preset interface, the first VNF status sent by the VNF;

A sixth aspect of the present application provides an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, comprising:

the receiver is used for the VNF to receive a status inquiry request sent by the VNFM;

a transmitter, configured to send a first VNF status to the VNFM, where the first VNF status is a current status of the VNF recorded by the VNF.

With reference to the sixth aspect, in a first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the receiver is further configured to:

after the transmitter transmits the first VNF state to the VNFM, receiving a notification transmitted by the VNFM that characterizes the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

the electronic device further includes a processor to modify, based on the notification, the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state;

the transmitter is further configured to send execution feedback to the VNFM after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

With reference to the sixth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the receiver is configured to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the transmitter is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

One or more technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

in the technical scheme of the invention, a VNFM receives a first VNF state sent by a VNF, wherein the first VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF; the VNFM obtaining a second VNF state, wherein the second VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM; the VNFM synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states. However, in the prior art, the VNFM records the state of the second VNF only according to information provided by the vendor, instructions executed by the VNFM, participating events, and the like, so that the state of the second VNF is not necessarily synchronized with the state of the first VNF actually recorded by the VNF. Therefore, the VNFM in the embodiment of the present invention synchronizes VNF states recorded by the VNF and the VNFM according to the first VNF state and the second VNF state, so that the technical problem of the non-synchronization of VNF states in the prior art is solved. And then make NFV system can carry out system management and control more accurately to the management trouble that has avoided leading to because of VNF state is asynchronous has been avoided.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one possible NFV architecture in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for synchronizing VNF states in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a flowchart of another method for synchronizing VNF states in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating interaction of VNF, VNFM, NFVO, and OSS/BSS in an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of another apparatus for synchronizing VNF states in the embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for synchronizing VNF states in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another device for synchronizing VNF states in this embodiment.

Detailed Description

The application provides a method and a device for synchronizing a VNF state, which are used for realizing the synchronization of the VNF state between a VNF and a VNFM and avoiding management faults caused by the asynchronous VNF state.

In order to solve the above technical problem, the solution idea of the technical solution provided by the present application includes:

in the technical solution of the present invention, the VNFM synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF state sent by the VNF and the second VNF state recorded by the VNFM. However, in the prior art, the VNFM records the state of the second VNF only according to information provided by the vendor, instructions executed by the VNFM, participating events, and the like, so that the state of the second VNF is not necessarily synchronized with the state of the first VNF actually recorded by the VNF. Therefore, the VNFM in the embodiment of the present invention synchronizes VNF states recorded by the VNF and the VNFM according to the first VNF state and the second VNF state, so that the technical problem of the non-synchronization of VNF states in the prior art is solved. And then make NFV system can carry out system management and control more accurately to the management trouble that has avoided leading to because of VNF state is asynchronous has been avoided.

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

The term "and/or" herein is merely an association describing an associated object, meaning that three relationships may exist, e.g., a and/or B, may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" herein generally indicates that the former and latter related objects are in an "or" relationship.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for synchronizing VNF states, and please refer to fig. 1, which is a possible NFV architecture applicable to the method for synchronizing VNF states in the embodiment of the present invention. The architecture includes: an Operation/service Support System (OSS/BSS for short), a network Element Management System (EMS for short), VNF, NFVI, NFVO, a network service directory NSCatalog, a virtual network function directory VNF Catalog, a network function virtualization instance NFV Instances, network function virtualization infrastructure Resources NFVI, VNFM, and a virtualization infrastructure Manager (VIM for short).

The EMS is used to perform conventional fault, configuration, charging, performance, security management functions for the VNF. The NSCatalog stores all NS descriptor information that has been loaded. The VNF Catalog stores all software packages that have been loaded. Nfvinstants stores state information of all running instances of NS, VNF, etc., such as assigned network addresses, operation records, etc. NFVI Resources store the status of all NFVI Resources, including available, reserved, and allocated NFVI Resources. The VIM is a management unit of the NFVI, and functionally includes hardware resource management and virtual resource management, and the deployment can be divided into two parts, namely cloud computing management (such as an OpenStack cloud management system) and Network management (such as a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller). For the function and usage of VNF, NFVI, NFVO, and VNFM, reference is made to the above.

In a first aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, a method for synchronizing VNF states in the embodiment will be described from a VNFM side, with reference to fig. 2, where the method includes:

s101: the virtual network function manager VNFM receives a first VNF state sent by the VNF.

S102: the VNFM obtains a second VNF state.

S103: the VNFM synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states.

Specifically, VNF states in embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, Instantiated unconfigured not Configured, uninstantiated Null, Terminated, Inactive, Active, and the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF itself, and the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded and maintained by the VNFM according to information provided by a vendor, an instruction executed by the VNFM, a participating event, and the like.

To obtain the first VNF status recorded by the VNF, before S101, the VNFM sends a status query request to the VNF through a preset interface. In this embodiment of the present invention, the status query request indicates that the VNFM needs to query the current status of the VNF recorded by the VNF, i.e. the first VNF status.

The VNFM may periodically send a status query request to the VNF, such as every 1 minute, 1.55 minutes, and so on. Status query requests may also be sent based on status aging, timeout mechanisms. Alternatively, when the VNFM receives a command of the NFVO, a status query request or the like is sent to the VNF. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application pertains may set the setting according to the practice, and the present application is not particularly limited.

Optionally, S101 includes:

the VNFM receives the first VNF state sent by the VNF through the preset interface.

Specifically, the VNFM sends a status query request and receives a preset interface of the first VNF status, a status management dedicated interface between the VNFM and the VNF. The state management dedicated interface can enable interaction between the VNFM and the VNF, and is specifically configured to transmit a state query request and a first VNF state. In a specific implementation process, a general interface for interaction between the VNF and the VNFM can be further expanded to serve as a preset interface. For example, get VNF fault information operation may be obtained by extending VNF fault information under the fault management interface, so that the fault management interface is used as a preset interface for transmitting the state query request and the first VNF state.

After the VNFM receives the first VNF state, S102 is performed, i.e. a second VNF state of the VNFM record is obtained locally. After the VNFM obtains the first VNF state and the second VNF state, S103 is performed next, i.e. the VNF states of the VNF and the VNFM records are synchronized. Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the VNF status of the synchronization record includes:

For example, if the first VNF state is "NU LL" and the second VNF state is also "NU LL", it is determined that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are consistent, and then, if the first VNF state is "Inactive" and the second VNF state is "NU LL", it is determined that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are inconsistent.

In this embodiment of the present invention, when the first VNF state and the second VNF state are consistent, it indicates that the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM is consistent with the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF itself. Thus, the VNFM maintains the second VNF state of the record, and it is achieved that the VNF and the VNFM record are synchronized.

Optionally, after the VNFM maintains the recording of the first VNF state, the method may further include:

the VNFM update records a timestamp of the second VNF state.

Specifically, in order to maintain the VNF state by the VNFM and to synchronize the VNF state by the VNFM next time, the VNFM needs to update the timestamp of the second VNF state in addition to maintaining the VNF state recorded by the VNFM as the second VNF state, so as to determine the latest update time of the second VNF state when providing the second VNF state for other devices or itself.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the timestamp of the second VNF state may be updated to a timestamp of a time when the VNFM sends the state query request, or to a timestamp of a time when the first VNF state is received, or may be updated to a timestamp of a time when the first VNF state and the second VNF state are determined to be consistent. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application pertains may set the setting according to the practice, and the present application is not particularly limited.

When the first VNF state and the second VNF state are not consistent, it indicates that the VNF state recorded by the VNFM or the VNF state recorded by the VNF itself is not consistent, and therefore, the VNFM needs to determine a real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and further synchronize the recorded VNF state according to the real state. The real state in the embodiment of the present invention represents the state of the VNF in the entire NFV system, and not only the state of one device of the VNF.

Specifically, when the first VNF state and the second VNF state are not consistent, the VNFM may determine the true state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state by itself. There are various ways for the VNFM to determine the true state, two of which are listed below, including but not limited to the following in the implementation.

(1) And the VNFM takes the VNF state recorded corresponding to the timestamp closest to the current time point in the timestamps of recording the first VNF state and the second VNF state as the real state.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the time stamp of the VNF status represents the time when the VNF status is recorded or updated. The timestamp is closest to the current time point, indicating that the time recorded to the corresponding VNF state is closest to the current time. Then the VNF state may be closer to the VNF's true state. Therefore, the VNF state corresponding to the latest timestamp is determined as the true state.

For example, the first VNF state is "Null", the timestamp of the first VNF state is "2015-1-111: 59: 30 ", the second VNF state is" Inactive ", the timestamp of the second VNF state is" 2015-1-111: 59: 45". At two timestamps "2015-1-111: 59: 30 "and" 2015-1-111: 59: 45 ", the timestamp of the second VNF state is the latest, closest to the current point in time. Therefore, the VNFM determines that the second VNF state "Inactive" is a true state.

(2) Assume that the first VNF state is "abnormal" and the second VNF state is "normal". Since the first VNF state "abnormal" is recorded by the VNF according to its current state, indicating that there is an abnormality in the VNF at this time, the VNFM determines that the first VNF state is a true state.

Optionally, after determining that the current real state is "abnormal", the VNFM may further report the "abnormal" state to the NFVO, so as to query corresponding resources (such as link resources, storage resources, and the like) through the NFVO, and determine whether the abnormality of the VNF is caused by an underlying resource, such as storage device damage, link interruption, power outage, and the like, or is caused by an internal cause of the VNF, such as storage out-of-bounds or dead cycle.

If the result is caused by the bottom layer resource, the VNFM can start failure processing; if the VNF is caused by the internal reason of the VNF, the VNFM can report the abnormal state of the VNF to the OSS, and the abnormal state of the VNF is eliminated as soon as possible by matching with the fault processing process of the OSS or the EMS.

In this embodiment of the present invention, to determine the true state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, the VNFM may further request the NFVO to help determine the true state, including:

the VNFM takes the received VNF state as the true state.

Specifically, when the true state is determined by the NFVO, the VNFM needs to provide the first VNF state and the second VNF state to the NFVO. There are various ways for NFVO to determine the true state, which are listed below, and in the implementation process, including but not limited to the following.

(1) And the NFVO takes the VNF state recorded corresponding to the timestamp closest to the current time point in the timestamps of recording the first VNF state and the second VNF state as the real state and returns to the VNFM.

Specifically, the timestamp is closest to the current time point, indicating that the time at which the corresponding VNF state is recorded is closest to the current time, and the VNF state may be closer to the actual state of the VNF. Therefore, the VNF state corresponding to the latest timestamp is determined as the true state.

For example, the first VNF state is "Null", the timestamp of the first VNF state is "2015-1-111: 59: 30 ", the second VNF state is" Inactive ", the timestamp of the second VNF state is" 2015-1-111: 59: 45". At two timestamps "2015-1-111: 59: 30 "and" 2015-1-111: 59: 45 ", the timestamp of the second VNF state is the latest, closest to the current point in time. Therefore, NFVO determines the second VNF state "Inactive" as the true state.

(2) And the NFVO determines the VNF state of the returned VNFM from the first VNF state and the second VNF state according to the fault information.

Specifically, the failure information in the embodiment of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, device failure information, virtual resource usage information, traffic change, connection state change, operation log, and the like. The NFVO adopts a fault analysis method, and there are various ways to determine the VNF status returned to the VNFM according to the fault information, which will be described below with reference to several examples.

①, assuming that the first VNF status is "normal". VNFM receives the VIM notification, finds a link abnormal, and further considers that VNF is abnormal, so the recorded second VNF status is "abnormal". VNFM sends the first VNF status, the second VNF status, and link abnormal information to nfvo.

(3) Assume that the first VNF state is "abnormal" and the second VNF state is "normal". Since the "abnormal" state of the first VNF is recorded by the VNF according to the current state, which indicates that there is an abnormality in the VNF at this time, the NFVO determines that the state of the first VNF is a real state, and returns the state of the first VNF to the VNFM.

Optionally, after determining that the current real state is "abnormal", the NFVO may further query corresponding resources (such as link resources, storage resources, and the like), and determine whether the abnormality of the VNF is caused by the underlying resources, such as storage device damage, link interruption, power outage, and the like, or caused by an internal reason of the VNF, such as storage out-of-bounds or dead cycle.

If the result is caused by the bottom layer resource, the VNFM can start failure processing; if the VNF is caused by the internal reason of the VNF, the VNFM can report the abnormal state of the VNF to the OSS and cooperate with the fault processing process of the OSS or the EMS to eliminate the abnormality of the VNF as soon as possible.

Finally, the VNFM receives the VNF state returned by the NFVO, and takes the returned VNF state as a real state.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, after the VNFM determines that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are inconsistent, the VNFM further needs to send a state out-of-synchronization notification to the NFVO. The state out-of-sync notification is used to indicate that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are not consistent or that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are not synchronized.

In a specific implementation process, the VNFM may send a state out-of-synchronization notification to the NFVO, and then start to determine the real state by itself or request the NFVO to determine the real state. The VNFM may also send a notification of out-of-synchronization of the state to the NFVO while beginning to determine the real state itself. Alternatively, the VNFM first starts determining the true status and then sends the status out-of-sync notification.

In addition, when the VNFM determines the real state, the state out-of-synchronization notification sent by the VNFM to the NFVO may include the first VNF state and the second VNF state, or may not include the first VNF state and the second VNF state. And when the VNFM requests the NFVO to determine the true status, the first VNF status and the second VNF status that the VNFM sends to the NFVO may be included in the status out-of-synchronization notification. Or the VNFM sends the out-of-synchronization notification to the NFVO separately, and the out-of-synchronization notification may be sent before the first VNF state and the second VNF state, or may be sent after the first VNF state and the second VNF state are sent. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application pertains may set the setting according to the practice, and the present application is not particularly limited.

After the NFVO receives the state out-of-synchronization notification, on one hand, to avoid that the VNF state of the next round is synchronized during the period of determining the real state, and on the other hand, to avoid that the NFVO issues a new lifecycle event processing command to change the VNF state to cause an exception, the NFVO may further need to notify the state out-of-synchronization between the OSS/BSS VNF and the VNFM.

When the real status is determined, the VNFM may send the real status, such as NFVO, OSS/BSS, or the like, to other devices that need to query the real status, in addition to the VNF status for synchronizing VNF and VNFM records. Furthermore, when the VNFs are controlled and managed, NFVO, OSS/BSS and the like can determine a reasonable control mode according to the real state, and the occurrence of management faults is reduced.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, synchronizing VNFM and VNF states recorded by VNF according to a true state may include:

Specifically, when the true state is the first VNF state, it indicates that the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF is the true state, and the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM is not consistent with the true state. Therefore, the VNFM needs to modify the second VNF state to the first VNF state. Of course, after modifying the second VNF state to the first VNF state, the time stamp of the VNFM record VNF state also needs to be updated. After the modification is completed, the VNFM notifies the NFVO, and further notifies the OSS/BSS to restore the synchronization VNF status through the NFVO, and waits for the next synchronization VNF status.

In a specific implementation process, if the VNFM modifies the VNF state recorded by the VNFM, the EMS may also need to be notified. And notifying the NFVO, and further notifying the OSS VNFM that the VNF state is changed through the NFVO.

And when the second VNF state is a real state, the VNFM will inform the VNF to modify the first VNF state. Specifically, the VNFM sends a notification to the VNF and sends the second VNF status to the VNF. Or, the VNFM includes the second VNF state in the notification, so that after receiving the notification, the VNF knows, on the one hand, that the VNF state of the record needs to be modified, and on the other hand, can obtain the second VNF state from the notification.

And after obtaining the second VNF state provided by the VNFM, the VNF modifies the VNF state recorded by the VNF from the first VNF state to the second VNF state. Of course, after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the VNF also needs to update the timestamp of the recording VNF state.

Optionally, if the second VNF state is a real state and the VNFM notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state into the second VNF state, to determine that the VNF modification is successful, the embodiment of the present invention further includes:

Specifically, the VNF, upon receiving the VNFM notification and the modification is completed, sends execution feedback to the VNFM. Therefore, if the VNFM receives the execution feedback sent by the VNF, it is known that the VNF has modified the first VNF state to the second VNF state. The VNFM notifies the NFVO and may further notify the OSS/BSS to restore the synchronization VNF status through the NFVO, waiting for the next synchronization VNF status.

And when the execution feedback is not received, which indicates that the VNF fails to modify the VNF state, the VNFM will resynchronize the VNF state or restart the VNF according to a preset policy. Specifically, the preset strategy in the embodiment of the present invention is as follows: the execution feedback sent by the VNF is not received within the preset time length, and the state of the VNF is resynchronized; and restarting the VNF after the number of times of re-synchronizing the VNF state exceeds a preset number of times.

The preset time may be 1 minute, 63 seconds, etc., and the preset times may also be 3 times, 4 times, etc. The ordinary skilled person in the art to which the present application belongs may set the preset time length and the preset times according to actual needs, and the present application is not particularly limited.

For example, assume that the preset time duration is 30 seconds and the preset number of times is 3 times. When the VNFM sends the notification within 30 seconds and does not receive the execution feedback, the VNFM will re-synchronize, i.e. start the 2 nd synchronization. If the VNFM receives the execution feedback after the 2 nd synchronization VNF state, the current synchronization is finished. And the VNFM informs the NFVO, and further informs the OSS/BSS of recovering the state of the synchronous VNF through the NFVO, and waits for the state of the synchronous VNF in the next round. If the VNFM does not receive the execution feedback after the 2 nd synchronization VNF state, the VNFM will start the 3 rd synchronization. After the VNFM is in the 3 rd time synchronization VNF state, receiving execution feedback, and ending the current round of synchronization; and if the execution feedback is not received after the VNFM is in the 3 rd time synchronization VNF state, the VNFM restarts the VNF.

Alternatively, the preset policy may also be: after the execution feedback sent by the VNF is not received within the first preset time, the state of the VNF is resynchronized; and, during the re-synchronizing of the VNF state, if the execution feedback is not received within the second preset time period after the notification is sent to the VNF, the VNF is restarted. In the embodiment of the present invention, a person skilled in the art to which the present application belongs may set the first preset duration and the second preset duration according to actual needs.

For example, assume that the first preset time period is 30 seconds and the second preset time period is 35 seconds. When the VNFM sends the notification within 30 seconds, the execution feedback is not received, and the VNFM will re-synchronize the VNF state. After the VNFM resynchronizes the VNF state, a notification is sent to the VNF again. If the execution feedback is received within 35 seconds after the notification is sent, the synchronization of the current round is finished; if the execution feedback is not received within 35 seconds after the notification is sent, the VNFM restarts the VNF.

In a second aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, a method for synchronizing VNF states in the embodiment is introduced from a VNF side, please refer to fig. 3, where the method includes:

s201: the VNF receives a status query request sent by the VNFM.

S202: the VNF sends a first VNF state to the VNFM.

In this embodiment, S201 includes:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

s202 comprises the following steps:

the VNF sends the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface.

Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the preset interface through which the VNF receives the status query request and transmits the first VNF status is a status management dedicated interface or a generic interface between the VNFM and the VNF. The above description has been presented with respect to a state management dedicated interface or a generic interface, and thus, the description thereof is not repeated here.

After receiving the first VNF state reported by the VNF, the VNFM synchronizes VNF states recorded by the VNF and the VNFM according to the first VNF state and the second VNF state recorded by the VNFM.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the first VNF state and the second VNF state are consistent, it indicates that the current state of the VNF record and the current state of the VNF of the VNFM record are synchronized, and therefore neither the VNF nor the VNFM needs to modify the recorded VNF state. And when the first VNF state and the second VNF state are not consistent, the VNFM determines a real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and further synchronizes the recorded VNF states according to the real state.

Specifically, when the first VNF state is a true state, the VNFM modifies the second VNF state to the first VNF state; or when the second VNF state is a true state, the VNFM notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

Therefore, when the second VNF state is the real state, after S202, the method further includes:

Specifically, when the second VNF state is the true state, the VNF receives a notification sent by the VNFM. Wherein the notification sent by the VNFM indicates that the VNF needs to modify the logged VNF state to the second VNF state. Further, the VNF parses the second VNF status from the notification, or from other information sent by the VNFM. And then the VNF modifies the first VNF state recorded by the VNF into a second VNF state. In addition, in order to report the VNF status recorded by the VNF to the VNFM again, the VNF may update the timestamp for recording the VNF status.

After the modification, the VNF also sends execution feedback to the VNFM in order to inform the VNFM that the first VNF state has been modified to the second VNF state.

The method for synchronizing the VNF state at the VNF side and the corresponding place at the VNFM side have been described in detail above, and are not repeated here.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a device for synchronizing VNF states, please refer to fig. 5, where the device includes:

a first receiving unit 501, configured to receive a first VNF state sent by a VNF, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

an obtaining unit 502, configured to obtain a second VNF state, where the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by a VNFM;

a synchronizing unit 503, configured to synchronize the recorded VNF statuses according to the first VNF status and the second VNF status.

Optionally, the synchronization unit 503 is configured to:

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises:

a resynchronization or restarting unit, configured to, after the synchronization unit 503 notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state, resynchronize the VNF state or restart the VNF according to a preset policy when an execution feedback, sent by the VNF, indicating that the VNF has completed modification is not received.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the synchronization unit 503 is configured to:

Alternatively, to determine the true state, the synchronization unit 503 is configured to:

Optionally, the apparatus further includes a state out-of-synchronization notification unit, configured to send, to the NFVO, a state out-of-synchronization notification indicating that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state after the synchronization unit 503 determines that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises:

a second VNF status updating unit, configured to update the timestamp recording the second VNF status after the synchronization unit 503 maintains the second VNF status.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises:

a first sending unit, configured to send a status query request to the VNF through a preset interface before the first receiving unit 501 receives the first VNF status sent by the VNF;

the first receiving unit 501 is configured to receive the first VNF status sent by the VNF through the preset interface;

A fourth aspect of the present application provides another apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, as shown in fig. 6, including:

a second receiving unit 601, configured to receive a status query request sent by the VNFM;

a second sending unit 602, configured to send a first VNF status to the VNFM, where the first VNF status is a current status of the VNF recorded by the VNF.

Optionally, the apparatus further comprises:

a receiving notification unit, configured to receive, after the second sending unit 602 sends the first VNF state to the VNFM, a notification sent by the VNFM and indicating that the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state into the second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM; based on the notification, the VNF modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state; after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the VNF sends execution feedback to the VNFM.

Optionally, the second receiving unit 601 is configured to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the second sending unit 602 is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

In a fifth aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, a device for synchronizing VNF states is provided, and the meaning and specific implementation of terms related to the device shown in fig. 7 may refer to the foregoing fig. 1 to fig. 6 and the related description of the embodiment.

Referring to fig. 7, the apparatus includes:

a receiver 701, configured to receive a first VNF state sent by a VNF, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

a processor 703, configured to obtain a second VNF state, where the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by a VNFM; synchronizing the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states.

Optionally, the processor 703 is configured to:

modifying the second VNF state to the first VNF state when the first VNF state is the real state; or when the second VNF state is the real state, notifying, by the transmitter 702 of the electronic device, that the VNF modifies the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

Optionally, the processor 703 is further configured to:

after notifying the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state through the transmitter 702, when execution feedback sent by the VNF and representing that the VNF has completed modification is not received through the receiver 701, resynchronizing the VNF state or restarting the VNF according to a preset policy.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the present invention, to determine the real state, the processor 703 is configured to:

Or, requesting NFVO to determine the true status, the transmitter 702 is configured to:

sending the first VNF state and the second VNF state to the NFVO;

the receiver 701 is configured to receive, from the NFVO, a VNF state recorded in a timestamp corresponding to a timestamp closest to a current time point, of the timestamp for recording the first VNF state and the timestamp for recording the second VNF state;

the processor 703 is configured to use the received VNF state as the real state.

Optionally, the processor 703 is further configured to:

Optionally, the transmitter 702 is further configured to:

before the receiver 701 receives a first VNF state sent by a virtual network function VNF, sending a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

the receiver 701 is configured to receive, through the preset interface, the first VNF status sent by the VNF;

Where in fig. 7 a bus architecture (represented by bus 700) is shown, bus 700 may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and bus 700 links together various circuits including one or more processors, represented by processor 703, and memory, represented by memory 704. The bus 700 may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. A bus interface 705 provides an interface between the bus 700 and the receiver 701 and transmitter 702. The receiver 701 and the transmitter 702 may be the same element, i.e., a transceiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium.

The processor 703 is responsible for managing the bus 700 and general processing, and the memory 704 may be used for storing data used by the processor 703 in performing operations.

Various changes and specific examples of the VNFM-side synchronization VNF state described in the foregoing embodiments are also applicable to the device of this embodiment, and through the foregoing detailed description of the method for synchronizing a VNF state on a VNFM side and the device for synchronizing a VNF state, those skilled in the art can clearly know the implementation method of the device for synchronizing a VNF state in this embodiment, so for the brevity of the description, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

In addition, a sixth aspect of the present embodiment provides another apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, please refer to fig. 8, including:

a receiver 801, configured to receive, by the VNF, a status query request sent by the VNFM;

a transmitter 802, configured to send a first VNF status to the VNFM, where the first VNF status is a current status of the VNF recorded by the VNF.

Optionally, the receiver 801 is further configured to:

after the transmitter 802 transmits the first VNF state to the VNFM, receiving a notification transmitted by the VNFM that characterizes the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

optionally, the receiver 801 is configured to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the transmitter 802 is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

Where in fig. 8 a bus architecture (represented by bus 800), bus 800 may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, and bus 800 links together various circuits including one or more processors, represented by processor 803, and memory, represented by memory 804. The bus 800 may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. A bus interface 805 provides an interface between the bus 800 and the receiver 801 and transmitter 802. The receiver 801 and the transmitter 802 may be the same element, i.e., a transceiver, providing a means for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium.

The processor 803 is responsible for managing the bus 800 and general processing, and the memory 804 may be used for storing data used by the processor 803 in performing operations.

Various changes and specific examples of the VNF-side VNF state synchronization described in the foregoing embodiments are also applicable to the device of this embodiment, and through the foregoing detailed description of the VNF-side VNF state synchronization method and the VNF state synchronization apparatus execution process, those skilled in the art can clearly know the implementation method of the device of this embodiment for synchronizing VNF states, and therefore, for the brevity of the description, detailed descriptions are omitted here.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing Virtual Network Function (VNF) states, comprising:

when the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, the VNFM determines a real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and synchronously records the VNF state according to the real state, wherein the real state is the first VNF state or the second VNF state; wherein, according to the VNF status of the real status synchronization record, including:

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after the VNFM notifies the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the method further comprises:

3. The method of any of claims 1-2, wherein determining the true state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state comprises:

4. The method of any of claims 1-2, wherein determining the true state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state comprises:

the VNFM takes the received VNF state as the true state.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein after determining that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, the method further comprises:

6. The method of claim 4, wherein after determining that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, the method further comprises:

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after maintaining the second VNF state, the method further comprises:

the VNFM update records a timestamp of the second VNF state.

8. The method of any of claims 1-2, 5-7, wherein prior to the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) receiving the first VNF state sent by the Virtual Network Function (VNF), the method further comprises:

the VNFM sends a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

9. The method of claim 3, wherein prior to the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) receiving the first VNF state sent by the Virtual Network Function (VNF), the method further comprises:

the VNFM sends a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

10. The method of claim 4, wherein prior to the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) receiving the first VNF state sent by the Virtual Network Function (VNF), the method further comprises:

the VNFM sends a state query request to the VNF through a preset interface;

11. A method of synchronizing VNF states, comprising:

the VNF receives a state query request sent by the VNFM;

the VNF sends a first VNF state to the VNFM, wherein the first VNF state is the current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

receiving a notification sent by the VNFM, the notification indicating that the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to a second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the VNF receiving a status query request sent by the VNFM comprises:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the VNF sending, to the VNFM, a first VNF state of the VNF record, including:

the VNF sends the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

13. An apparatus for synchronizing VNF status, applied to a virtual network function manager VNFM, includes:

a synchronization unit, configured to determine whether the first VNF status and the second VNF status are consistent; maintaining the second VNF state logged when the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state; when the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, determining a real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and synchronously recording the VNF states according to the real state, wherein the real state is the first VNF state or the second VNF state; the synchronization unit is configured to:

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

15. The apparatus of any of claims 13-14, wherein the synchronization unit is to:

16. The apparatus of any of claims 13-14, wherein the synchronization unit is to:

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises a state out-of-sync notification unit to send a state out-of-sync notification to the NFVO indicating that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state after the synchronization unit determines that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are inconsistent.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus further comprises a state out-of-sync notification unit to send a state out-of-sync notification to the NFVO indicating that the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state after the synchronization unit determines that the first VNF state and the second VNF state are inconsistent.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a second VNF status updating unit, configured to update a timestamp recording the second VNF status after the synchronization unit maintains the second VNF status.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 13-14, 17-19, further comprising:

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

23. An apparatus for synchronizing VNF status, applied to VNF, includes:

a second sending unit, configured to send a first VNF state to the VNFM, where the first VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

a receiving notification unit, configured to receive, after the second sending unit sends the first VNF state to the VNFM, a notification sent by the VNFM and indicating that the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state into a second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM; based on the notification, the VNF modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state; after modifying the first VNF state to the second VNF state, the VNF sends execution feedback to the VNFM.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second receiving unit is to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the second sending unit is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;

25. An apparatus for synchronizing VNF status, applied to a virtual network function manager VNFM, includes:

a processor configured to obtain a second VNF state, where the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by a VNFM; synchronizing the recorded VNF states according to the first VNF states and the second VNF states;

the processor is configured to: determining whether the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state; maintaining the second VNF state logged when the first VNF state is consistent with the second VNF state; when the first VNF state is inconsistent with the second VNF state, determining a real state from the first VNF state and the second VNF state, and synchronously recording the VNF states according to the real state, wherein the real state is the first VNF state or the second VNF state; the processor is configured to:

modifying the second VNF state to the first VNF state when the first VNF state is the real state; or when the second VNF state is the real state, notifying, by a transmitter of the device, the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to:

after notifying, by the transmitter, the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state, when execution feedback sent by the VNF and representing that the VNF has completed modification is not received by the receiver, resynchronizing the VNF state or restarting the VNF according to a preset policy.

27. The apparatus of any one of claims 25-26, wherein the processor is to:

28. The apparatus of any one of claims 25-26, wherein the transmitter is to:

sending the first VNF state and the second VNF state to the NFVO;

the processor is configured to treat the received VNF state as the real state.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is further to:

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the transmitter is further configured to:

31. The device of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to:

32. The apparatus of any of claims 25-26, 29-31, wherein the transmitter is further to:

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the transmitter is further to:

34. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the transmitter is further configured to:

35. An apparatus for synchronizing VNF states, applied to a VNF, includes:

a transmitter, configured to transmit a first VNF status to the VNFM, where the first VNF status is a current status of the VNF recorded by the VNF;

the receiver is further configured to:

after the transmitter transmits the first VNF state to the VNFM, receiving a notification transmitted by the VNFM that characterizes the VNF needs to modify the first VNF state to a second VNF state; the second VNF state is a current state of the VNF recorded by the VNFM;

the apparatus further includes a processor to modify, based on the notification, the VNF to modify the first VNF state to the second VNF state;

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the receiver is to:

receiving the state query request through a preset interface;

the transmitter is configured to:

sending the first VNF state to the VNFM through the preset interface;