VNFM Replacement via Parallel VNF Traffic Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing VNF management systems face challenges in replacing Virtualized Network Function Managers (VNFM) without causing service disruptions due to interface incompatibilities and non-backward compatible changes, especially when transitioning from specialized VNFM to generic VNFM or vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the instantiation of a target VNF managed by a target VNFM, redirecting traffic from the source VNF to the target VNF, and subsequently terminating the source VNF and VNFM, ensuring a non-service-disruptive replacement by scaling out the source VNF and then scaling it back in once traffic is fully redirected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a source VNFM is replaced by a target VNFM with incompatible interfaces, then architectural modernization and standardization are achieved, but service disruptions occur during the transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by instantiating the target VNF and establishing its interface compatibility with the target VNFM before the source VNF is terminated. This ensures that the replacement infrastructure is fully prepared and tested for interface compatibility before the actual transition, preventing service disruptions during the swap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a transition period where both source and target VNFs coexist. The traffic redirection mechanism acts as a mediator, gradually shifting load from the source VNF to the target VNF, allowing the system to bridge the interface incompatibility gap without service interruption.
2Ease of operation
If traffic is redirected from source VNF to target VNF, then seamless replacement is achieved, but additional infrastructure resources are required during transition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the VNF infrastructure dynamic during the transition period. The system allows for scaling out the target VNF to handle redirected traffic while the source VNF is still operational, then dynamically scaling back as traffic fully transitions. This dynamic resource allocation enables smooth replacement while optimizing resource utilization over time.
3Productivity
If the source VNF is terminated before full traffic redirection, then resource cleanup is achieved, but service disruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms to monitor traffic redirection status in real-time. The system continuously assesses whether full traffic redirection has occurred before terminating the source VNF. This feedback loop ensures that resource cleanup actions (terminating source VNF) are only taken when service availability is guaranteed, preventing premature termination that would cause disruptions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A technique for replacing a source Virtualized Network Function Manager, VNFM, managing a source Virtualized Network Function, VNF, in a VNF based environment by a target VNFM is disclosed. A method implementation of the technique comprises the steps of triggering (S302) instantiating a target VNF, the target VNF being managed by the target VNFM and being executed in parallel to the source VNF, triggering (S304) redirecting traffic from the source VNF to the target VNF in accordance with a traffic redirection schedule, triggering (S306) terminating the source VNF when redirecting traffic from the source VNF to the target VNF is complete, and triggering (S308) terminating the source VNFM.