uCPE Resource Allocation for NFV Service Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service disruption times are significant during VNF upgrades or replacements in NFV environments, especially in resource-constrained edge cloud scenarios, leading to downtime and operational interruptions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves automatically increasing resource allocation ratios for hardware resources such as disk, RAM, and processor resources on uCPEs from default values through oversubscription to support VNF substitutions, with adjustments back to default values after successful boot-up of the new VNF, and determining spin-up times based on historical usage data to minimize disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If resource allocation ratios are increased through oversubscription to support VNF substitutions, then service disruption times are reduced, but hardware resource constraints are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation ratios based on operational needs. During VNF substitution operations, the orchestrator temporarily increases the allocation ratio above 1:1 to ensure sufficient resources are available for the new VNF to boot up. After successful substitution, the ratio returns to the default 1:1. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt resource distribution to transient requirements without permanently compromising hardware resource constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the resource allocation ratio parameter from a fixed default value to a variable parameter that can be temporarily increased during VNF substitution operations. By adjusting this parameter dynamically based on operational context, the system can provide additional resources during critical transition periods while maintaining normal resource constraints during steady-state operation, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing service disruption time and respecting hardware resource limits.
2Reliability
If VNF substitution is performed in resource-constrained edge cloud environments, then service continuity is maintained, but service disruption occurs during the substitution process
Solution Approach 1:
The orchestrator performs preliminary actions by proactively increasing the resource allocation ratio before the VNF substitution actually occurs. This ensures that when the new VNF needs to boot up during substitution, sufficient resources are already allocated and available. By preparing the resource environment in advance, the system minimizes the actual service disruption time while maintaining service continuity through proper resource provisioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous service operation by ensuring resource allocation supports uninterrupted VNF substitution. The dynamic adjustment of allocation ratios ensures that resource availability never drops below what is needed for the service chain to function, even during transitions. This continuous resource support enables seamless VNF substitution without complete service interruption, balancing reliability with minimal disruption time.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method for reducing service disruption times in a network functions virtualization, NFV, network infrastructure comprising at least one uni-versal customer premise equipment, uCPE, having hardware resources used for running virtual network functions, VNFs, on virtual machines, VMs, wherein in response to a request for substituting an im-plemented virtual network function, VNF, linked to other virtual network functions, VNFs, in a VNF service chain by another substitution VNF resource allocation ratios of available hardware resources of the universal custom-er premise equipment, uCPE, are automatically increased from a default value by oversubscription to provide the hardware resources required by the substitution VNF.