Introduction
Let’s understand on how the requirements for cloud-native VNFs in telecom differ from those of IT applications and how deploying VNFs using microservices and containers can lead to successful cloud-native NFV implementation. So, now let us see How Effective is Container-Based VNF Deployment for Cloud-Native NFV along with Smart 4G Tester, 4G LTE Tester, 4G Network Tester and VOLTE Testing tools & Equipment and Smart LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & RF drive test software in telecom in detail.
Understanding Cloud-Native VNFs for Telecom
Telecom applications have unique requirements for VNFs compared to typical cloud-native IT applications. Telecom VNFs handle data plane/packet processing, control, signalling, and media processing. Any errors in VNFs can disrupt the network and affect numerous subscribers. Therefore, telecom VNFs must be resilient, offer ultra-high performance, low latency, scalability, and capacity. They need to be real-time applications sensitive to latency to meet network data, control, and signalling processing needs.
Decomposing VNFs into Microservices
To achieve cloud-native readiness, VNFs should be decomposed into microservices. This involves breaking down monolithic VNFs into smaller, collaborative services with specific functionalities, maintaining their states, and consuming diverse infrastructure resources. These microservices should be automatically scaled and orchestrated using well-defined APIs. Benefits of this approach include:
Efficient Deployment: Microservices are deployed on hardware best suited for their management and scalability.
High Availability: Any error in a microservice affects only that specific function, allowing for easy troubleshooting.
Service Reusability: Decomposed services can be reused within the VNF lifecycle in the NFV environment.
Lightweight VNFs: Functions like load balancing and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) are stripped from the core application.
Deployment Methods: Virtual Machines vs. Containers
Containers, a form of OS-level virtualization, encapsulate application dependencies, libraries, and configurations in an isolated package. This makes applications portable and independently runnable.
Deploying decomposed VNF microservices in containers supports continuous delivery and deployment of complex applications. However, containers for VNFs pose certain concerns:
Evolving Ecosystem: The container ecosystem is still maturing compared to virtual machines.
Security Risks: Containers share a single OS kernel, posing a risk if the kernel is breached.
Fault Isolation: Faults can propagate to other containers.
Despite these challenges, containers offer several benefits for cloud-native NFV:
Resource Optimization: Containers enable efficient resource utilization and management.
DevOps Integration: Containers facilitate the implementation of DevOps methodologies, enabling automation of tasks like scaling, upgrading, and healing.
Independent Lifecycle Management: Containers allow for individual lifecycle management processes, enabling versioning and upgrading of specific services without impacting the entire VNF.
Conclusion
Containers are pivotal in achieving a fully cloud-native 5G network built with highly automated NFV. Service providers must strategize their use of containers in NFV infrastructure to harness these benefits. While security risks and performance challenges exist, further research and development from open-source communities like ONAP and OPNFV can address these issues, paving the way for successful 5G deployment. Also find similar articles from here.
