Multi-NRF Topology for 5G Load Balancing and Automatic Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current 5G standard lacks support for multiple and/or redundant NRF devices to operate on the same MCC-MNC of a PLMN, failing to provide load-balancing and failover capabilities for NRF devices and NF devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fault-tolerant multi-NRF network topology with a primary and secondary NRF devices that broadcast queries, receive responses, determine device status, and manage NF device registrations and queries, ensuring redundancy and load-balancing through automatic failover and heartbeat messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single NRF device is deployed in the 5G network, then the device complexity is low and the standard implementation is simple, but the system lacks fault tolerance and cannot provide load-balancing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The NRF function is segmented into multiple independent NRF devices (primary NRF and secondary NRF) that operate in parallel. Each NRF device maintains the complete NF service registration and discovery functionality, allowing the system to distribute queries across multiple instances and provide fault tolerance through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of NRF devices by introducing a multi-instance architecture with specific roles (primary and secondary). The parameter change includes implementing load-balancing algorithms that distribute NF service queries across multiple NRF devices, and establishing failover mechanisms that automatically switch to secondary NRF when primary NRF fails.
2Reliability
If multiple NRF devices are deployed for load-balancing and redundancy, then the system reliability and availability improve, but the current 5G standard does not support this configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic role assignment and switching between primary and secondary NRF devices. The architecture allows flexible configuration where any NRF device can become primary based on operational status, and the system dynamically adjusts query routing to maintain load-balancing efficiency while adapting to failure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where NRF devices monitor each other's operational status and automatically adjust their roles and query routing accordingly. When a primary NRF fails, the secondary NRF detects this through feedback signals and automatically takes over the primary role, maintaining continuous service availability without manual intervention.
3Productivity
If NRF devices operate independently without coordination, then the device operation is simple, but load-balancing and failover capabilities cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Each NRF device is designed with universal functionality to perform both primary and secondary roles. The multi-functionality includes the ability to process NF service queries, register NF services, and coordinate with other NRF devices through standardized interfaces. This universal design enables seamless failover and load-balancing without requiring specialized hardware or complex coordination protocols.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for implementing a fault-tolerant multi-NRF network topology may include a network repository function (NRF) device including: at least one processor configured to execute computer readable instructions to cause the NRF device to, broadcast a NRF query to a NRF cluster of a core network, the NRF cluster including a plurality of NRF devices located in a public land mobile network (PLMN); receive NRF query responses from each NRF device of the NRF cluster, the NRF query responses including network configuration information of each NRF device; determine a status of each NRF device based on the network configuration information; determine a list of network function (NF) devices registered with the NRF cluster; receive a NF query request from a first NF device; and transmit a NF query response to the first NF device.