KR20180031156A - Apparatus and method for managing and orchestrating network function virtualization - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for operating network function virtualization comprises: a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) for generating a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module for virtualizing a function that network equipment performs and providing the same; a network function virtualization orchestration (NFVO) unit for controlling an operation that the VIM generates the VNF module or the VNFC module and receiving information on the generated VNFC module from the VIM; and a virtual network function management (VNFM) unit for setting a function such that the VNFC module corresponding to the received information performs the function that the network equipment performs.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION [0002] 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. More specifically, a virtual network function (VNF) module and a virtual network function component (VNFC) module included in the network function virtualization (NFV) -based virtualized network infrastructure are created the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for performing an instantiation process.

Network function virtualization is a technology that implements and implements 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 EPS (Evolved Packet System) / LTE (Long Term Evolution) system, MME (Mobility Management Entity), SGW (Serving Gateway), PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway) and the like can 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 the software block that constitutes the MME.

By combining such network function virtualization with a mobile communication service system, various network nodes can be virtualized, thereby improving the flexibility and agility of the mobile communication service system.

Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-0149082 (Published Oct. 30, 2014)

As described above, the VNF module or the VNFC module is a configuration capable of realizing functions of the network equipment in the NFV-based virtualized space. Accordingly, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to create a VNF module or a VNFC module so that the VNF module or the VNFC module is driven in a virtualized space, perform environment setting for the VNF module or the VNFC module, And to perform the function setting for them.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. will be.

A network function virtualization operating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that virtualizes functions performed by network equipment A virtual infrastructure management unit (VIM) for controlling the virtual infrastructure management unit to control the operation of generating the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module, A network function virtualization control unit (NFVO) for receiving information on the network function virtualization control unit (NFVO), and a virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information to perform functions performed by the network equipment It includes a network management function (virtual network management function, VNFM).

A network function virtualization operating method according to an embodiment is performed by a network function virtualization operating device, wherein the network function virtualization operating device includes a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), a network function virtualization orchestration And a virtual network function management unit (VNFM), wherein the network function virtualization operating method includes a virtual network function providing function of virtual networking functions performed by the network equipment under control of the network function virtualization control unit, wherein the virtual infrastructure management unit generates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module, A step in which the virtualization control unit is received from the virtual infrastructure management unit; and a step of performing a function performed by the network function virtualization control unit and performing a function performed by the virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information .

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network functional virtualization (NFV) system to which a network functional virtualization operating apparatus (NFV MANO) according to an embodiment is applied.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a network functional virtualization method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. The following terms are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention of the user, the intention or the custom of the operator. Therefore, the definition should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

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

1, the NFV system 10 includes a network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) 200, a virtual network function 300, a network functional virtualization infrastructure (100) and an operation support system (OSS) (600). Here, the NFV system 10 and the respective components included therein can be implemented by a host server or a component of such a host server.

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

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

The NFVI 200 includes a virtualization layer 270. The virtualization unit 270 may virtualize the hardware resources 201 into the virtualized resources 202. [ In addition, the virtualization unit 270 can separate the hardware of the NFVI 200 and the software of the virtualization network function unit 300 (which will be described later) and relay them between them. That is, the NFVI 200 can be interworked with the virtual network function unit 300 by the virtualization unit 270 in a state where the hardware resources 201 and the virtualized resources 202 are separately operated. The virtualization unit 270 may be referred to as a hypervisor.

The virtualization network function unit 300 includes at least one virtual network function (VNF module) 310, 320, and 330. Each VNF module 310-330 includes at least one virtual network function component (VNFC module), not shown in FIG. The VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC module included therein may allocate the hardware resource 201 or the virtualized resource 202 from the NFVI 200 to perform various network node functions.

The virtualization network function unit 300 includes an element management (EM) The EM 400 can manage the VNF modules 310 to 330 and the VNFC modules, respectively, and can display their operation states through a graphical user interface (GUI) or the like.

An operation support system (OSS) 600 functions to control the network to maximize efficiency and productivity. It also performs real-time network monitoring and control, and collects information about the use of the network for planning, operation, and maintenance of the network.

The network function virtualization operating apparatus 100 includes a network function virtualization controller 110, a virtual network function manager 120, and a virtualization infrastructure manager 120. [ but is not limited to, a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) 130.

First, the VIM 130 generates the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules included in the VNF modules 310 to 330 and the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules included therein. Creating an environment refers to allocating resources of the host server to, for example, the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC modules included therein, or setting them so that they can be driven using the resources of the host server, And installing an application software package on the computer. The VNFC module can be run in a virtualized space using this generated environment.

The environment created by the VIM 130 includes, for example, a network used by the VNF modules 310 to 330, a subnet constituting the generated network, a port used by the VNFC module, Generating a host server in which the VNFC module is to be operated, and allocating a disk volume to be used by the VNFC module to the created host server. Here, creating the network or subnet used by the VNF modules 310 to 330 may be repeatedly performed as many times as the number of networks or subnets used by the VNF modules 310 to 330. Also, creating a port used by the VNFC module can be repeatedly performed as many times as the number of ports to be used by the VFNC module. In addition, the generation of the host server in which the VNFC module is driven can be repeatedly performed as many times as the number of the VNFC modules constituting the VNF module. Also, the allocation of the disk area to be used by the VNFC module to the created host server can be repeated as many times 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 create the above-described environment in conjunction with an open stack 280. [ In this case, the VIM 130 and the open stack 280 can perform communication in the http format. More specifically, the VIM 130 may include an open stack control unit (not shown in FIG. 1). The VIM 130 may instruct the open stack 280 through the open stack control to create the environment. In addition, the VIM 130 may be requested to report the result of the environment generated from the NFVO 110. In this case, the VIM 130 may request the open stack 280 for a result value for the created environment, return the result value from the open stack 280, and forward the returned result value to the NFVO 110 . Here, the open stack is an open source cloud technology and is a type of virtualization OS installed in the NFVI 200. Since the technology for creating the environment of the VNF modules 310 to 330 or the VNFC module by the open stack has been already known, A description thereof will be omitted.

The VNFM 120 sets the generated environment for the VNFC module. When configuring the environment, the IP address to be used by the VNFM module or the time information of the network can be set.

In addition, the VNFM 120 performs the function setting for each VNFC module on a VNFC module basis. By function setting, each VNFC module is configured to perform the functions performed by the network equipment.

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

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

The VNFM 120 controls the VNFC module to be driven. For this purpose, the VNFM 120 can transmit various setting information and parameters required for driving the VNFC module to the VNFC module. Such various setting information and parameters are well-known matters, and a description thereof will be omitted.

At this time, there are cases where the order in which each VNFC module is to be driven has already been defined in a state in which at least two VNFC modules are notified of life cycle change notification for each of them. In this case, the VNFM 120 can control each VNFC module to be sequentially driven according to the predefined order.

NFVO 110 is responsible for managing virtualization network functionality 300 substantially through the allocation of hardware resources 201 or virtualized resources 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 to 330. [ Such a request may be, for example, at the request of the manager of the NFV system 10.

The NFVO 110 may also request the VNFM 120 to generate the VNF modules 310 to 330 so that the VIM 130 generates the VNF modules 310 to 33 or the VNFC modules included therein, 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 detail with reference to FIG.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a network functional virtualization method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network functional virtualization operating method shown in FIG. 2 is performed by the network functional virtualization operating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 on the network functional virtualization system 10. Furthermore, since the flowchart shown in Fig. 2 is merely an example, the idea of the present invention is not limited to the flow shown in Fig. For example, each step constituting the network functional virtualization operating method may be performed in an order different from that described below, or at least one is not performed according to the embodiment or the order shown in the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, the NFVO 110 receives a request for generation of the VNF modules 310 to 330 (S100). This request may be, for example, in response to a request from an administrator of the network functional virtualization operating device 100 or may be in accordance with the self-determination of the NFV system 10. [

The NFVO 110 transmits a request for the creation of the VNF module to the VNFM 120 (S101). Such requests may include, but are not limited to, a network service ID, a VNFD-ID (VNF Descriptor ID), and a flavor-ID. For example, the network service ID may be an ID indicating a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (SGW), a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), or the like. The VNFD-ID may be an ID indicating detailed information on a specific VNF module for which generation is requested, and the Flavor-ID may be an ID indicating a capacity of a specific VNF module for which generation is requested. For this purpose, the NFVO 110 and the VNFM 120 may share detailed information indicated by the IDs described above.

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 the VNFM 120 about the completion of the generation of the VNF module or the VNFC module corresponding to the job ID by the polling method, Can be delivered.

The VNFM 120 requests creation of a VNF module or a VNFC module and creation of the environment (S103). The generation request for the environment is as described above in order to request the generation of the server resource so that the VNF module or the VNFC module can be operated in the virtualized environment. The request for creating the environment may include not only the VNFD-ID and flavor-ID described above, but also information on the VNFC module (VDU-list) constituting the VNF module requested to be generated.

The NFVO 110 generates a job ID corresponding to the request in step S103 and transmits it to the VNFM 120 (S104). This job ID is used to check whether or not the request according to step S103 has been completed. For example, after the VNFM 120 receives the job ID from the NFVO 110, the VNFM 120 inquires the NFVO 110 about the completion of the environment generation corresponding to the job ID by the polling method and receives the result.

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

Here, the process of creating the environment in cooperation with the open stack 280 by the VIM 130 under the control of the NFVO 110 is as follows. For example, if a network needs to be created, if the NFVO 110 requests the VIM 130 to create a network, the VIM 130 requests the open stack 280 to create a network, The VIM 130 transmits to the VIM 130 that the creation of the network is completed. The VIM 130 transmits to the NFVO 110 that the creation of the network is completed. This procedure is repeated by the number of networks to be used by the VNF module. Hereinafter, generation of a subnet, creation of a port, creation of a host server, and allocation of a disk area are similar to each other, and therefore, a description thereof will be omitted.

The VNFM 120 receives from the NFVO 110 a request according to step S103, that is, a generation of a VNF module or a VNFC module and an environment creation of the VNF module or the VNFC module, and a result of completing the environment creation (S107). Specifically, the VNFM 120 inquires the NFVO 110 about the completion of the environment creation corresponding to the job ID by the polling method, and receives the result of the inquiry. When the environment creation is completed, the VNFM 120 requests the NFVO 110 for information on the result of environment creation, for example, the generated host server, port, network, and subnet. The NFVO 110 requests the VIM 130 for the result of the environment creation. The VIM 130 requests the open stack 280 and returns the result to the NFVO 110. Then, the NFVO 110 transmits the result of the environment creation to the VNFM 120.

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

Next, the VNFM 120 performs a function setting for the VNFC module (S200). The function setting is to make the VNFC module that has been set up to perform the functions performed by the network equipment. The setting of the function may include, for example, setting the location information of the application software package in the VNFC module, setting a static IP to be used by the VNFC module, or setting time information of the network, Same as.

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

The VNFM 120 controls the VNFC module to be driven (S202). For this, 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 where the order in which each VNFC module is to be driven is already defined in a state where at least two VNFC modules are notified of lifecycle change notification for each of them. In this case, the VNFM 120 can control each VNFC module to be sequentially driven according to the predefined order as described above.

After receiving the job ID from the VNFM 120, the NFVO 110 inquires of the VNFM 120 about the completion of the generation of the VNF module corresponding to the job ID by the polling method and receives the result (S300).

When the generation of the VNF module is completed, the NFVO 110 changes its job status because the generation of the VNF module is completed (S301). The NFVO 110 may then indicate to the administrator that a new VNF module has been created on its terminal screen.

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

Combinations of each step of the flowchart and each block of the block diagrams appended to the present invention may be performed by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus so that the instructions, which may be executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, And means for performing the functions described in each step are created. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to implement the functionality in a particular manner so that the computer usable or computer readable memory It is also possible for the instructions stored in the block diagram to produce a manufacturing item containing instruction means for performing the functions described in each block or flowchart of the block diagram. Computer program instructions may also be stored on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment so that a series of operating steps may be performed on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer- It is also possible that the instructions that perform the processing equipment provide the steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and at each step of the flowchart.

Also, 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, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the continuous specification by the manager of the virtual machine providing apparatus or the update of the virtual machine image, and the burden of the personalization process by the user of the virtual machine can be minimized.

10: NFV system
100: Network feature virtualization operating device
110: NFVO
120: VNFM
130: VIM

Claims (6)

A virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) that creates a virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module that provides a virtualization function of a network device ,
A network function virtualization controller for controlling the operation of the virtual infrastructure manager to generate the virtual network function module or the virtual network function component module and receiving information about the generated virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure manager, function virtualization orchestration, NFVO)
And a virtual network function management (VNFM) module for setting a function for the virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information to perform a function performed by the network equipment
Network function virtualization management and orchestration (NFV MANO) device. The method according to claim 1,
The virtual infrastructure management unit creates an environment that the generated virtual network function component module has in the virtualized space,
The network function virtualization control unit sets the generated environment so that the virtual network functional component module is driven in the virtualized space
Network function virtualization operating device. The method according to claim 1,
The above-
Setting a location information of an application software package installed in the virtual network function component module and enabling a function performed by the network device to be performed and a time information of a network to be used by the virtual network function module ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 >
Network function virtualization operating device. The method of claim 3,
The virtual network function management unit
An element management unit (EM) for managing the state of the virtual network functional component module when installation of the application software package is completed in the virtual network functional component module based on the setting of the location information of the application software package, The virtual network function component module is notified that the lifecycle representing the status of the virtual network functional component module has been changed
Network function virtualization operating device. 5. The method of claim 4,
The virtual network function management unit
When at least two or more virtual network functional component modules to which the change of the life cycle is notified are defined in a predetermined order, the at least two virtual network functional component modules are respectively driven So as to control
Network function virtualization operating device. A network function virtualization operating method performed by a network function virtualization operating device, the network function virtualization operating device comprising: a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM); a network function virtualization controller (NFVO) A virtual network function management (VNFM)
A virtual network function (VNF) module or a virtual network function component (VNFC) module for virtualizing and providing functions performed by the network equipment under the control of the network function virtualization controller, Generating by the management unit,
Receiving information on the created virtual network function component module from the virtual infrastructure management unit by the network function virtualization control unit;
And setting a virtual network function component module corresponding to the received information to be performed by the network function virtualization controller to perform a function performed by the network equipment
How to operate network function virtualization.

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