State replication of virtual network function instances
View Patent ↗A method to be carried out by an interface element (IE, 510 ) between a VNF pool ( 508 ) and a control entity ( 520 ) is disclosed. The VNF pool ( 508 ) comprises a plurality of VNF instances ( 502 ) including at least a first and second instances. The control entity ( 520 ) is configured to control the VNF instances ( 502 ) of the pool ( 508 ). The method enables the IE ( 510 ) to assist in replicating a state of the first VNF instance on the second VNF instance. The method includes steps of obtaining a control message provided from the control entity ( 520 ) to the first VNF instance ( 502 ), providing the obtained control message at least to the first and to the second VNF instances ( 502 ), and providing an acknowledgement of the control message to the control entity ( 520 ) when the interface element ( 510 ) has an acknowledgement, either explicit or implicit, of both the control message provided to the first VNF instance ( 502 ) and the control message provided to the second VNF instance ( 502 ).
1. A method for an interface element between a Virtual Network Function pool and a control entity, the Virtual Network Function pool comprising a plurality of Virtual Network Function instances which include at least a first Virtual Network Function instance and a second Virtual Network Function instance, the plurality of Virtual Network Function instances registered with a Virtual Network Function pool registrar communicatively connected to the interface element, the Virtual Network Function pool registrar configured to provide a handle to one of the Virtual Network Function instances to a pool user, the control entity configured to control the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool by sending control messages, the interface element to assist in replicating a state of the first Virtual Network Function instance at least on the second Virtual Network Function instance, the method comprising:
the interface element obtaining a control message from the control entity to the first Virtual Network Function instance, wherein the control message defines the state of the first Virtual Network Function instance;
the interface element providing the control message, or a derivation thereof, at least to the first Virtual Network Function instance and to the second Virtual Network Function instance; and
the interface element providing an acknowledgement of the control message to the control entity when the interface element has an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the first Virtual Network Function instance and an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the second Virtual Network Function instance.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the Virtual Network Function instances comprise two or more Virtual Network Function instances, wherein the interface element providing the control message at least to the first Virtual Network Function instance and to the second Virtual Network Function instance comprises providing the control message to at least two of the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool, and wherein the method further comprises:
the interface element identifying Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool from which the interface element did not receive an acknowledgement of the control message; and
the interface element providing an indication of the identified Virtual Network Function instances to the Virtual Network Function pool registrar.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising establishing a base communication channel between the interface element and each of the control entity, the first Virtual Network Function instance, and the second Virtual Network Function instance.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the Virtual Network Function instances comprise two or more Virtual Network Function instances, wherein the interface element establishing the base communication channel comprises establishing the base communication channel between the interface element and each of the at least two of the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool, and wherein the method further comprises:
the interface element identifying Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool with which the base communication channel could not be established and/or was broken; and
the interface element providing an indication of the identified Virtual Network Function instances to the Virtual Network Function pool registrar.
5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising the interface element establishing a secure communication channel over the base communication channel established between the interface element and each of the control entity, the first Virtual Network Function instance, and the second Virtual Network Function instance.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the secure communication channel comprises a SSL/TLS-based channel.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the secure communication channel between the interface element and each of the control entity, the first Virtual Network Function instance, and the second Virtual Network Function instance is established substantially in parallel.
8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the Virtual Network Function instances comprise two or more Virtual Network Function instances, wherein the interface element establishing the secure communication channel comprises establishing the secure communication channel between the interface element and each of at least two of the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool, and wherein the method further comprises:
the interface element identifying Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool with which the secure communication channel could not be established and/or was broken; and
the interface element providing an indication of the identified Virtual Network Function instances to the Virtual Network Function pool registrar.
9. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product comprising software code portions configured for, when executed on a processor, carrying out method steps according to claim 1 .
10. A data processing system comprising at least a processor configured to carry out a method for an interface element between a Virtual Network Function pool and a control entity, the Virtual Network Function pool comprising a plurality of Virtual Network Function instances which include at least a first Virtual Network Function instance and a second Virtual Network Function instance, the plurality of Virtual Network Function instances registered with a Virtual Network Function pool registrar communicatively connected to the interface element, the Virtual Network Function pool registrar configured to provide a handle to one of the Virtual Network Function instances to a pool user, the control entity configured to control the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool by sending control messages, the data processing system to assist in replicating a state of the first Virtual Network Function instance at least on the second Virtual Network Function instance, the method comprising:
the interface element obtaining a control message from the control entity to the first Virtual Network Function instance, wherein the control message defines the state of the first Virtual Network Function instance;
the interface element providing the control message, or a derivation thereof, at least to the first Virtual Network Function instance and to the second Virtual Network Function instance; and
the interface element providing an acknowledgement of the control message to the control entity when the interface element has an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the first Virtual Network Function instance and an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the second Virtual Network Function instance.
11. A system comprising:
a Virtual Network Function pool comprising a plurality of Virtual Network Function instances which include at least a first Virtual Network Function instance and a second Virtual Network Function instance;
a control entity configured to control the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool by sending control messages;
a Virtual Network Function pool registrar with which the Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool are registered and which is configured to provide a handle to one of the Virtual Network Function instances to a pool user; and
an interface element communicatively connected to each of the Virtual Network Function instances, the Virtual Network Function pool registrar and to the control entity,
wherein the interface element is configured to
obtain a control message from the control entity to the first Virtual Network Function instance, wherein the control message defines the state of the first Virtual Network Function instance;
provide the control message, or a derivation thereof, at least to the first Virtual Network Function instance and to the second Virtual Network Function instance; and
provide an acknowledgement of the control message to the control entity when the interface element has an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the first Virtual Network Function instance and an acknowledgement of the control message or of the derivation thereof provided to the second Virtual Network Function instance.
12. The system according to claim 11 ,
wherein the Virtual Network Function pool registrar is configured to at least receive from the interface element the Virtual Network Function instances identified by the interface element as Virtual Network Function instances of the Virtual Network Function pool from which the interface element did not receive an acknowledgement of the control message.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the Virtual Network Function pool registrar is further configured to provide to the pool user a handle to a backup Virtual Network Function instance in case of a switch from the first Virtual Network Function instance.
14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the Virtual Network Function pool registrar is further configured to provide to the pool user a handle to a second Virtual Network Function instance in case of load sharing between at least the first Virtual Network Function instance and the second Virtual Network Function instance in the data plane.