Network Service Dimensioning for NFV Capacity Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network service design processes in NFV systems lack the ability to efficiently tailor network services to meet specific capacity requirements, leading to suboptimal deployment and scaling of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and Virtual Links (VLs, which affects the Quality of Service (QoS) and scalability.
Innovation Solution
The proposed method, known as network service dimensioning, involves a tailored approach that selects appropriate VNF deployment flavors and calculates the required number of VNF instances based on non-functional requirements (NFRs), generating deployment parameters to be integrated into the Network Service Descriptor (NSD) for NFV-MANO to manage capacity levels from minimum to maximum, enabling scalable network service deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network services are deployed using generic NSD templates without dimensioning, then deployment speed is improved, but resource allocation efficiency and QoS deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing dimensioning calculations before actual network service deployment. The system calculates required VNF instances and deployment flavors based on capacity requirements, then pre-generates dimensioned NSD templates that incorporate these calculations. This allows the NFV-MANO to deploy services efficiently using pre-computed parameters, resolving the contradiction between deployment speed and resource allocation efficiency.
2Reliability
If network services are scaled to meet varying capacity demands, then QoS is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting VNF deployment flavors and instance counts based on capacity requirements. The dimensioning process calculates optimal parameters (number of VNF instances, deployment flavors) that satisfy QoS demands while managing complexity through systematic parameter determination rather than ad-hoc configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling scalable network service deployment where VNF instances and deployment flavors can be adjusted from minimum to maximum capacity levels. The dimensioned NSD templates provide the NFV-MANO with the flexibility to dynamically scale services based on actual capacity demands, improving QoS while maintaining manageable complexity through structured scaling parameters.
3Productivity
If VNF deployment flavors are selected based on detailed capacity calculations, then resource utilization is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by performing capacity calculations and VNF deployment flavor selections in advance during the dimensioning phase. The system calculates required VNF instances and selects appropriate deployment flavors before deployment, storing these decisions in pre-generated dimensioned NSD templates. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming calculations during actual deployment, improving resource utilization without sacrificing deployment speed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and network node are provided for dimensioning a network service (NS). The method comprises calculating, based on given capacity requirements of the NS, a required number of virtual network functions component (VNFC) instances of each of a plurality of virtual network function (VNF) in the NS; selecting a VNF deployment flavor (VnfDf) for each of the plurality of VNFs in the NS, based on the calculated required number of VNFC instances; generating a network service deployment flavor (NsDf) including the selected VnfDfs; and onboarding a network service descriptor (NSD), which includes the NsDf, for use for instantiating the dimensioned NS.