The telecommunications industry is abuzz with the imminent arrival of 5G. This new generation of connectivity promises unprecedented speed, reliability, and versatility. Leading network equipment vendors, solution providers, and communication service providers are investing heavily in Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technology. This shift is largely driven by contributions from open-source communities and innovative proof-of-concept (PoC) collaborations among commercial vendors.
The move towards 5G is not just about faster speeds; it’s about creating a more robust and flexible network capable of handling a diverse range of applications, from ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) for critical applications to massive machine-type communications (mMTC) for IoT devices. As the complexity of these networks increases, so does the need for effective network management and service assurance. So, now let us see How is Embracing 5G with DevOps Ushering in a New Era in Network Assurance along with User-friendly 5g tester, 5G test equipment, 5g network tester tools and User-friendly LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & RF drive test software in telecom in detail.
The Challenge: Ensuring Service Assurance
In the journey toward 5G, service providers face the complex task of maintaining consistent quality of service (QoS). With multiple Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) forming service chains and the implementation of network slicing, providers must ensure that each slice meets specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Network slicing allows the creation of multiple virtual networks within a single physical network infrastructure, each tailored to meet the specific requirements of different use cases.
These challenges are further compounded by the need for frequent updates and patches, which cannot be managed manually without risking service disruptions. The dynamic nature of virtualized environments means that VNFs might need regular updates to enhance features or to patch vulnerabilities. Manual testing and validation of these changes would be impractical and could lead to significant downtime, affecting the user experience.
Key Requirements for Service Providers:
- Validate critical SLAs for each network slice through active monitoring and metric analysis.
- Identify and resolve issues in real-time without disrupting service delivery.
- Ensure that any updates or changes to the network do not adversely affect ongoing services.
Addressing the Challenge: Automated Testing and Monitoring
To tackle these challenges, service providers need automated, programmable testing and validation tools. This is where the PoC, developed by Telenor, Intel, Arctos Labs, Netrounds, Rift.io, and ETSI Open-Source MANO (OSM), comes into play. This PoC leverages MANO for automated lifecycle management and uses a DevOps approach for network operations and service design, enabling seamless deployment and maintenance of service chains and 5G slices.
The PoC demonstrates how an integrated approach to service assurance can be achieved by combining various technologies and methodologies. MANO provides the orchestration layer, ensuring that VNFs are deployed, configured, and managed efficiently. The DevOps methodology, known for its emphasis on automation, continuous integration, and continuous deployment, is applied to the lifecycle management of network services.
PoC Implementation: Real-Time Service Assurance
The PoC integrates MANO with RIFT.IO’s RIFT.ware for NFV orchestration and uses OpenStack as the Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM). A crucial aspect of this PoC is the inclusion of Netrounds’ virtual test agents (vTAs), which actively generate traffic and perform real-time measurements to ensure QoS.
The vTAs are designed to simulate real-world network conditions and provide detailed analytics on network performance. These agents can be deployed within the network infrastructure and configured to monitor specific parameters critical to each network slice. By generating traffic and analyzing the network’s response, vTAs provide valuable insights into potential issues and performance bottlenecks.
Sample Case: Network Slicing Scenario
- Mobile Broadband: KPI focused on throughput.
- Massive IoT: KPI focused on packet loss.
- Industrial Automation: KPI focused on latency.
Each of these slices has distinct requirements and performance indicators. For instance, mobile broadband services require high throughput to ensure smooth streaming and download experiences. Massive IoT applications, on the other hand, prioritize minimal packet loss to maintain reliable communication between devices. Industrial automation demands low latency to ensure timely execution of critical operations.
The architecture employs vTAs to continuously monitor these KPIs and provide real-time insights to the control center, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed. This proactive approach allows service providers to maintain high standards of service and quickly adapt to changing network conditions.
Benefits of Real-Time Monitoring and Automation
Proactive Issue Resolution: By continuously monitoring the network, service providers can detect and address issues before they impact end users. This proactive approach helps maintain a high level of service quality and reduces downtime.
Enhanced SLA Compliance: Automated testing and validation ensure that all network slices meet their respective SLAs. This is particularly important for critical applications that require guaranteed performance levels.
Scalability and Flexibility: The use of virtual test agents and automated orchestration allows the network to scale dynamically in response to changing demand. Service providers can quickly deploy new VNFs or adjust existing ones to optimize performance.
Cost Efficiency: Automation reduces the need for manual intervention, lowering operational costs and minimizing the risk of human error. This efficiency translates to cost savings for service providers and better pricing for consumers.
PoC Architecture and Example
In the PoC, a network slicing scenario containing three different slices is considered, each with different characteristics, outputs for customers, and KPIs to meet requirements from services that service providers are delivering.
PoC Example:
- Mobile Broadband: Focuses on high throughput to support activities such as streaming and downloading.
- Massive IoT: Prioritizes low packet loss to ensure reliable communication between numerous IoT devices.
- Industrial Automation: Requires low latency to maintain the precision and timing needed for industrial processes.
Architecture Components:
- ETSI Open-Source MANO (OSM): Used for NFV orchestration and service lifecycle management.
- IO’s RIFT.ware: Provides orchestration capabilities for the PoC.
- OpenStack: Serves as the Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM) to manage the underlying virtualized resources.
Real-Time Service Assurance
The deployment of virtual test agents as part of the network service chains ensures continuous oversight and real-time insights into service performance. This allows service providers to:
- Monitor Network Health: Continuously track the performance of each network slice to ensure it meets its SLA requirements.
- Automate Testing and Validation: Implement automated processes for testing new services and validating updates during runtime. If an update fails, it can be rolled back before impacting customers.
- Optimize Resource Allocation: Dynamically allocate resources based on real-time performance data to ensure optimal network performance.
Summary
For the large-scale deployment of 5G network slices, achieving end-to-end service assurance is essential. This PoC demonstrates how real-time monitoring and testing, empowered by DevOps automation, can maintain the health of service chains and network slices. The deployment of virtual test agents as part of the network service chains ensures continuous oversight and real-time insights into service performance.
The key takeaway from this PoC is the importance of integrating automated testing and validation into the lifecycle management of network services. By doing so, service providers can ensure high levels of service quality, meet SLA requirements, and provide a superior customer experience. As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, the adoption of DevOps and NFV technologies will be critical in managing the complexity and demands of 5G networks. Also read similar articles from here.
