KR102106566B1 - Apparatus and method for managing and orchestrating network function virtualization - Google Patents

Abstract

The network function virtualization operating apparatus according to an embodiment generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes and provides functions performed by network equipment. A virtual infrastructure management unit (VIM) and the virtual infrastructure management unit control the operation of generating the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module, and the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure management unit Network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO) that receives information about the virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information, and sets a function to perform a function performed by the network equipment It includes a network management function (virtual network management function, VNFM).

Description

Network function virtualization operating device and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AND ORCHESTRATING NETWORK FUNCTION VIRTUALIZATION}

The present invention relates to a network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV MANO) device and method. In more detail, a virtual network function (VNF) module and a virtual network function component (VNFC) module included therein are generated from a virtualized network infrastructure based on network function virtualization (NFV). (instantiation) relates to an apparatus and method for performing a procedure.

Network function virtualization is a technology that implements and operates the functions of network equipment on a virtual network function (VNF) module in a cloud-based virtualized space. For example, in the case of an evolved packet system (EPS) / long term evolution (LTE) system, a mobility management entity (MME), a serving gateway (SGW), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) may be implemented on the VNF module.

At this time, the VNF module includes at least one virtual network function component module. If the VNF module implements the MME, the VNFC module may implement a software block constituting the MME.

When the network function virtualization is applied to the mobile communication service system, various network nodes can be virtualized, and accordingly, the flexibility and agility of the mobile communication service system can be improved.

Korean Patent Publication, 2014-0149082 (2014.10.30. Publication)

As described above, the VNF module or the VNFC module is a configuration capable of implementing functions of network equipment in an NFV-based virtualized space. Accordingly, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to create a VNF module or a VNFC module such that the VNF module or the VNFC module is driven in a virtualized space, and perform environment settings for them, and also implement the functions of the communication network equipment. In order to do so, it proposes a technique for performing a function setting for them.

However, the problem to be solved of the present invention is not limited to those mentioned above, and another problem not to be solved can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge to which the present invention belongs from the following description. will be.

The network function virtualization operating apparatus according to an embodiment generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes and provides functions performed by network equipment. A virtual infrastructure management unit (VIM) and the virtual infrastructure management unit control the operation of generating the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module, and the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure management unit Network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO) that receives information about the virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information, and sets a function to perform a function performed by the network equipment It includes a network management function (virtual network management function, VNFM).

The network function virtualization operation method according to an embodiment is performed by a network function virtualization operation device, wherein the network function virtualization operation device is a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), a network function virtualization control unit (network function virtualization orchestration), NFVO) and a virtual network function management unit (VNFM), wherein the network function virtualization operation method is a virtual network function provided by virtualizing a function performed by network equipment under control of the network function virtualization control unit The virtual infrastructure management unit generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module, and the information about the generated virtual network function component module is generated in the network. Receiving a virtualization control unit from the virtual infrastructure management unit, and setting the virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information to be performed by the network function virtualization control unit to perform a function performed by the network equipment It includes.

According to an embodiment, a VNF module or a VNFC module that implements the functions of network equipment in a virtualized space is generated, and environment setting for them can be performed. In addition, function settings for them can be performed so that they implement the functions of the communication network equipment.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network function virtualization (NFV) system to which a network function virtualization operating apparatus (NFV MANO) according to an embodiment is applied.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a network function virtualization operation method according to an embodiment.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be clarified with reference to embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments allow the disclosure of the present invention to be complete, and common knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains It is provided to completely inform the person having the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in an embodiment of the present invention, which may vary according to a user's or operator's intention or practice. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network function virtualization (NFV) system to which a network function virtualization operating apparatus (NFV MANO) according to an embodiment is applied. However, since this is an example, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to being applied only to the network function virtualization system shown as described above.

Referring to FIG. 1, the NFV system 10 includes a network function virtualization infrastructure (hereinafter referred to as NFVI) 200, a virtual network function unit 300, and a network function virtualization operating device. 100 and an operation support system (OSS) 600. Here, the NFV system 10 and each component included therein can be implemented by a host server or a component of the host server.

NFVI 200 includes hardware resources 201. The hardware resource 201 may be a physical resource constituting the host server. The hardware resource 201 may include a plurality of computing hardware, storage hardware, and network hardware, respectively.

NFVI 200 includes virtualized resources 202. The virtualized resource 202 refers to a virtualized resource created based on the hardware resource 201. Each of these virtualized resources 202 may include a plurality of virtual computing, virtual storage, and virtual networks.

The NFVI 200 includes a virtualization layer 270. The virtualization unit 270 may virtualize the hardware resource 201 as a virtualized resource 202. Also, the virtualization unit 270 may separate hardware of the NFVI 200 and software of the virtualization network function unit 300 (which will be described later) and relay between them. That is, the NFVI 200 may be interlocked with the virtualization network function unit 300 in a state in which the hardware resource 201 and the virtualized resource 202 are individually operated by the virtualization unit 270. Accordingly, the virtualization unit 270 may be referred to as a hypervisor.

The virtualization network function unit 300 includes at least one virtual network function module (hereinafter referred to as a VNF module) 310, 320, 330. Each VNF module 310 to 330 includes at least one virtual network function component (hereinafter referred to as a VNFC module) although not shown in FIG. 1. The VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules included therein may perform the functions of various network nodes by receiving hardware resources 201 or virtualized resources 202 from the NFVI 200.

The virtualized network function unit 300 includes an element management unit (hereinafter referred to as EM) 400. The EM 400 may manage the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules, respectively, and display their operation status through a graphical user interface (GUI).

The operation support system (OSS) 600 functions to control the network to maximize efficiency and productivity. In addition, it performs functions such as real-time network monitoring and control, network planning, operation, and maintenance, and gathers information related to network use.

The network function virtualization operating apparatus 100 includes a network function virtualization control unit (network function virtualization orchestrator, hereinafter referred to as NFVO) 110, a virtual network function manager (hereinafter referred to as VNFM) 120, and a virtualization infrastructure management unit (virtual infrastructure manager, hereinafter referred to as VIM) 130 may be included, but is not limited thereto.

First, the VIM 130 generates VNF modules 310 to 330 or VNFC modules included therein, and also creates an environment for VNF modules 310 to 330 or VNFC modules included in them. Creating an environment refers to, for example, allocating the resources of the host server to the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules included therein, or setting them to be operable using the resources of the host server, but only the VNFC modules Installation of application software packages (application software package) is excluded. The VNFC module can run in a virtualized space using the created environment.

In the environment generated by the VIM 130, for example, creating a network used by the VNF modules 310 to 330, creating a subnet constituting the created network, and a port used by the VNFC module It may include at least one of creating, creating a host server on which the VNFC module runs, and allocating a disk volume to be used by the VNFC module to the created host server. Here, creating a network or subnet used by the VNF modules 310 to 330 may be repeatedly performed as many as the number of networks or subnets used by the VNF modules 310 to 330. In addition, creating a port used by the VNFC module may be repeatedly performed as many as the number of ports used by the VFNC module. Also, generating a host server on which the VNFC module is driven may be repeatedly performed as many as the number of VNFC modules constituting the VNF module. Further, allocating a disk area to be used by the VNFC module to the generated host server may be repeatedly performed as many as the number of disk areas to be used by the VNF modules 310 to 330.

At this time, according to an embodiment, the VIM 130 may generate the above-described environment in connection with the open stack 280. In this case, the VIM 130 and the open stack 280 may perform communication using an http method. In more detail, the VIM 130 may include an open stack control unit, although not shown in FIG. 1. The VIM 130 may instruct the open stack 280 to create an environment through the open stack control unit. In addition, the VIM 130 may receive a request to inform the result value of the environment generated from the NFVO 110. In this case, the VIM 130 may request the result of the generated environment from the open stack 280, return the result value from the open stack 280, and then transmit the returned result value to the NFVO 110. . Here, the open stack is an open source cloud technology and is a type of virtualized OS installed in the NFVI 200. Since the technology for generating the environment of the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules by the open stack is already known, detailed description thereof is provided. The description will be omitted.

VNFM 120 sets the environment created for the VNFC module. When setting the environment, IP or network time information to be used by the VNFM module may be set.

In addition, the VNFM 120 performs function setting for each VNFC module in units of VNFC modules. By function setting, each VNFC module is set to perform functions performed by network equipment.

The function setting performed by the VNFM 120 includes setting location information of an application software package in a VNFC module, for example. Using the location information set as described above, the VNFC module can download an application software package. Here, the application software package may be a software package that enables the VNFC module to perform functions performed by network equipment. In addition, setting a fixed IP to be used by the VNFC module or setting time information of a network may be included in the function setting performed by the VNFM 120, but is not limited thereto.

The VNFM 120 may notify the EM 400 that a lifecycle indicating the state of the VNFC or VNF modules 310 to 330 has been changed. For example, when the installation of the application software package is completed in the VNFC module, the VNFM 120 may notify that the life cycle has been changed due to the creation of the VNFC module. Here, the EM 400 is a configuration that manages the state of the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC module. Since the EM 400 itself is a known configuration, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The VNFM 120 controls the VNFC module to be driven. To this end, the VNFM 120 may transmit various setting information and parameters required for the operation of the VNFC module to the VNFC module, and since such various setting information and parameters are already known, a description thereof will be omitted.

At this time, there are cases where at least two or more VNFC modules and the order in which each of the VNFC modules are to be driven are defined in a state in which the lifecycle change notification for each of them is completed. In this case, the VNFM 120 may control each VNFC module to be sequentially driven according to a predefined order.

The NFVO 110 serves to substantially manage the virtual network function unit 300 through the allocation of the hardware resource 201 or the virtualized resource 202. Thus, the NFVO 110 may be referred to as an orchestrator.

The NFVO 110 may request the VNFM 120 to generate the VNF modules 310-330. In this case, the request may be, for example, according to the request of the administrator of the NFV system 10.

In addition, if there is a request for generation of VNF modules 310 to 330 from VNFM 120, NFVO 110 generates VNF modules 310 to 33 or VNFC modules included therein or VIM 130 You can control the creation of the environment.

The operations performed by the NFVO 110 described above are performed in conjunction with the VNFM 120 and the VIM 130, and specific procedures in which these operations are performed will be described in more detail in FIG. 2.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a network function virtualization operation method according to an embodiment. The network function virtualization operating method illustrated in FIG. 2 may be performed by the network function virtualization operating apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 on the network function virtualization system 10. In addition, since the flow chart shown in FIG. 2 is merely exemplary, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the flow shown in FIG. 2. For example, at least one of the steps constituting the network function virtualization operating method may not be performed or may be performed in a different order from the following description shown in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, the NFVO 110 receives a request for generation of the VNF modules 310 to 330 (S100). The request may be, for example, a request from the administrator of the network function virtualization operating apparatus 100 or may be based on the own determination of the NFV system 10.

The NFVO 110 transmits a request for the generation of the VNF module to the VNFM 120 (S101). The request may include, but is not limited to, a network service ID, a VNFD-ID (VNF Descriptor ID), and a Flavor-ID. The network service ID indicates an ID indicating a network service, and for example, the network service ID may be an ID indicating a mobility management entity (MME), a serving gateway (SGW), or a packet data network gateway (PGW). The VNFD-ID may be an ID indicating detailed information on a specific VNF module requested to be generated, and the Flavor-ID may be an ID indicating the capacity of a specific VNF module requested to be generated. To this end, the NFVO 110 and the VNFM 120 may share detailed information indicated by the aforementioned IDs.

The NFVO 110 receives the job ID from the VNFM 120 (S102). The job ID is used to check whether the creation of the VNF module has been completed. For example, after receiving the job ID from the VNFM 120, the NFVO 110 inquires to the VNFM 120 whether or not the generation of the VNF module or VNFC module corresponding to the job ID is completed in a polling manner, and the result is obtained. Can be delivered.

The VNFM 120 requests the generation of the VNF module or the VNFC module and their environment (S103). It is the same as described above that the request for creation of the environment requests the creation of the server resource in order to enable the VNF module or the VNFC module to operate in a virtualized environment. The request for environment creation may include, but is not limited to, the above-described VNFD-ID and Flavor-ID, as well as information on the VNFC module that will constitute the VNF module for which creation is requested.

The NFVO 110 generates a job ID corresponding to the request in step S103 and delivers it to the VNFM 120 (S104). This job ID is used to check whether the request according to step S103 has been completed. For example, after receiving the job ID from the NFVO 110, the VNFM 120 may inquire to the NFVO 110 whether or not the environment creation corresponding to the job ID is completed in a polling manner, and receive the result.

The NFVO 110 controls the generation of the VNF module or VNFC module performed by the VIM 130 or the environment generation for them. In this case, the VIM 130 may perform the creation of the VNF module or the VNFC module and environment creation in conjunction with the open stack 280 (S105).

Here, the process of generating the environment in connection with the VIM 130 and the open stack 280 under the control of the NFVO 110 is as follows. For example, when a network needs to be created, when the NFVO 110 requests the VIM 130 to create a network, the VIM 130 requests the open stack 280 to create a network, and the open stack 280 establishes a network. After creation, the creation is transmitted to the VIM 130, and the VIM 130 transfers the creation of the network to the NFVO 110. This procedure is repeated as many times as the number of networks to be used by the VNF module. Hereinafter, since the creation of the subnet, the creation of the port, the creation of the host server, and the allocation of the disk area are similar, the description thereof will be omitted.

The VNFM 120 receives the request according to step S103, that is, whether the creation of the VNF module or the VNFC module and the environment creation for these are completed, and the result of the environment creation completed from the NFVO 110 (S107). In detail, the VNFM 120 inquires whether the environment creation corresponding to the job ID is completed to the NFVO 110 in a polling manner, and receives the result. When the environment creation is completed, the VNFM 120 requests the NFVO 110 as a result of the environment creation, for example, information about the generated host server, port, network, and subnet. The NFVO 110 requests the result of the environment creation to the VIM 130, and the VIM 130 requests the open stack 280 to receive the result and returns it to the NFVO 110. Then, the NFVO 110 transmits the result of the environment generation to the VNFM 120.

Next, the VNFM 120 sets the environment for the VNFC module (S108). At this time, according to embodiments, fixed IP or network time information for the VNFC module may be set.

Next, the VNFM 120 performs function setting for the VNFC module (S200). The function setting is to make the VNFC module capable of performing the environment setting perform the functions performed by the network equipment. The function setting may include, for example, setting location information of an application software package in a VNFC module, setting static IP to be used by the VNFC module, or setting time information of a network. As it is.

The VNFM 120 notifies the EM 400 that the lifecycle indicating the state of the VNFC or VNF modules 310 to 330 has been changed (S201). For example, as described above, when the installation of the application software package is completed in the VNFC module, the VNFM 120 may notify that the life cycle has been changed due to the creation of the VNFC module.

The VNFM 120 controls the VNFC module to be driven (S202). To this end, the VNFM 120 can transmit various setting information and parameters required for driving the VNFC module to the VNFC module, as described above.

In addition, there are cases in which the order in which each of the VNFC modules should be driven is defined in a state in which at least two or more VNFC modules are notified and the lifecycle change notification for each of them is completed. In this case, it is as described above that the VNFM 120 can control each VNFC module to be sequentially driven according to a predefined order.

Meanwhile, after receiving the job ID from the VNFM 120, the NFVO 110 inquires to the VNFM 120 whether or not the generation of the VNF module corresponding to the job ID is completed in a polling manner, and can receive the result. Yes (S300).

When the generation of the VNF module is completed, the NFVO 110 changes its job status on the ground that the generation of the VNF module is completed (S301). And the NFVO 110 can display that a new VNF module has been created to the administrator through its terminal screen.

As described above, according to an embodiment, a VNF module or a VNFC module that implements a function of a communication network equipment in a virtualized space is generated, and environment setting for them can be performed. In addition, function settings for them can be performed so that they can implement the functions of the communication network equipment.

Combinations of each block in the block diagrams and respective steps in the flow diagrams attached to the present invention may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be mounted on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, so that instructions executed through a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing equipment may be used in each block or flowchart of the block diagram. In each step, means are created to perform the functions described. These computer program instructions can also be stored in computer readable or computer readable memory that can be oriented to a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement a function in a particular manner, so that computer readable or computer readable memory The instructions stored in it are also possible to produce an article of manufacture containing instructions means for performing the functions described in each block or flowchart step of the block diagram. Since computer program instructions may be mounted on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, a series of operational steps are performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a process that is executed by the computer to generate a computer or other programmable data. It is also possible for instructions to perform processing equipment to provide steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and in each step of the flowchart.

Further, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing the specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments it is also possible that the functions mentioned in blocks or steps occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially simultaneously, or it is also possible that the blocks or steps are sometimes performed in reverse order depending on the corresponding function.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be capable of various modifications and variations without departing from the essential quality of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden of performing a continuous specification or update of the virtual machine image by the administrator of the virtual machine providing device, and can minimize the burden of the personalization process by the user of the virtual machine.

10: NFV system
100: network function virtualization operating device
110: NFVO
120: VNFM
130: VIM

Claims (7)

A virtual infrastructure function (VIM) module that generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes and provides functions performed by network equipment. ,
A network function virtualization control unit controlling an operation of the virtual infrastructure management unit generating the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module and receiving information on the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure management unit (network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO),
The virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information includes a virtual network function management (VNFM) for setting a function to perform a function performed by the network equipment,
The function setting includes setting for location information of an application software package installed in the virtual network function component module to enable the function performed by the network equipment.
Network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV MANO) device. According to claim 1,
The virtual infrastructure management unit creates an environment in which the generated virtual network function component module has a virtualized space,
The network function virtualization control unit sets the created environment such that the virtual network function component module is driven in the virtualized space.
Network function virtualization operating device. According to claim 1,
The above function setting,
The virtual network function module further includes setting time information for a network to be used.
Network function virtualization operating device. According to claim 1,
The virtual network function management unit
When the installation of the application software package on the virtual network function component module is completed based on the setting of the location information of the application software package, an element management unit (EM) that manages the state of the virtual network function component module Notifying the user that the lifecycle indicating the state of the virtual network function component module has been changed
Network function virtualization operating device. The method of claim 4,
The virtual network function management unit
When at least two or more virtual network function component modules in which the change of the life cycle are notified are defined in an order to be driven, the at least two virtual network function component modules are respectively driven according to the predefined order. Controlled as much as possible
Network function virtualization operating device. In a network function virtualization operating method performed by a network function virtualization operating device, the network function virtualization operating device includes a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), a network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO), and a virtual network. It includes a virtual network function management (VNFM),
According to the control of the network function virtualization control unit, a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes and provides a function performed by network equipment is provided in the virtual infrastructure. Steps that the management creates,
Receiving information on the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual function management unit of the network function virtualization controller;
And performing a function performed by the network function virtualization control unit and setting a virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information to perform a function performed by the network equipment.
The function setting includes setting for location information of an application software package installed in the virtual network function component module to enable the function performed by the network equipment.
How to operate network function virtualization. A virtual infrastructure function (VIM) module that generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes and provides functions performed by network equipment. ,
A network function virtualization control unit controlling an operation of the virtual infrastructure management unit generating the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module and receiving information on the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure management unit (network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO),
The virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information includes a virtual network function management (VNFM) for setting a function to perform a function performed by the network equipment,
The function setting includes setting of time information for a network to be used by the virtual network function module.
Network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV MANO) device.

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