Automated Cloud Sandboxes for Multi-Vendor Network Function Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing network functions in radio-based applications face challenges in setting up sophisticated test environments, particularly when network functions from different vendors need to interoperate, and require significant cloud computing configuration efforts, while ensuring isolation and security, which can be burdensome and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A network function management service automates the setup of multi-network-function test sandboxes using a cloud provider network, configuring isolated virtual networks, launching compute instances, verifying connectivity, and executing tests to ensure interoperability and performance of network functions from different vendors, leveraging hardware accelerators and workload generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual testing environment setup is used for network functions from different vendors, then testing can be performed, but the configuration effort and time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically provisioning and configuring the complete testing environment including virtual networks, compute instances, and network function instances before the actual testing begins. This eliminates the time-consuming manual setup phase while ensuring the environment is properly configured for reliable testing results.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system implements self-service by automatically managing the entire testing environment lifecycle without human intervention. The system provisions resources, configures network functions, establishes connectivity, and executes tests autonomously, reducing both setup time and human effort while maintaining testing reliability.
2Reliability
If isolated virtual networks are configured for each vendor's network functions, then security and isolation are improved, but the device complexity and configuration burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal testing framework that handles multiple vendor network functions within a standardized virtual network architecture. The same infrastructure and configuration processes serve multiple vendors and multiple network functions, reducing overall complexity while maintaining the required isolation and security for each vendor's components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automation layer that manages the complexity of configuring isolated virtual networks for multiple vendors. This intermediary automatically handles the provisioning, configuration, and interconnection of virtual networks, shielding users from the underlying complexity while ensuring proper isolation and security for each vendor's network functions.
3Reliability
If comprehensive interoperability testing is performed between network functions from different vendors, then the quality assurance improves, but the resource consumption and testing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple testing activities and resources into a unified automated testing framework. By combining the provisioning, configuration, connectivity verification, and execution of interoperability tests into a single integrated process, the system achieves comprehensive quality assurance while optimizing resource utilization and reducing overall cloud computing resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts testing parameters such as the number of concurrent tests, resource allocation, and test depth based on the specific requirements of each testing scenario. This allows comprehensive interoperability testing to be performed with optimized resource consumption, adapting the testing intensity and scope to match the actual needs rather than always using maximum resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A testing manager at a provider network configures a multi-network-function test sandbox for a first network function developed by a first vendor. To configure the sandbox, the testing manager causes the first network function to be run at a first server and verifies network connectivity between the first network function and another network function which is not developed by the first vendor. The testing manager causes a test to be run, which includes transmission of messages from the first network function to the second network function. A result of the test is provided via a programmatic interface.