1 Introduction
This document contains information for system administration tasks performed in the VNF Lifecycle Manager (VNF-LCM). VNF-LCM provides a workflow execution environment and a web-based application for managing VNF life cycle procedures.
VNF life cycle procedures are realized by executing ordered sequences of steps, called workflows. Each workflow must be provided with VNF-specific input parameters during execution.
2 Prerequisites
This section provides information on the tools and conditions that apply to the procedures in this document.
EO is available.
The workflow bundle RPM is installed as described in the relevant network management system documentation. For more information, see VNF-Lifecycle Manager System Administration Guide, Reference [1].
- The cloud environment is prepared for the deployment of the VNF, that is, the following activities are performed:
Cloud hardware and software preparation and configuration
Flavor creation
Network topology creation
Subnet creation
For detailed instructions, see the relevant deployment instructions.
3 Prepare VNF Deployment Parameters
The VNF-LCM uses the parameters of the env.yaml file as input for VNF instantiation, therefore they must be defined to match your network environment.
The mrf_config parameter of the env.yaml file contains the VNF configuration either from a backup of an older VNF, or prepared by Ericsson, to be used for instantiation. This procedure describes how to prepare VNF deployment parameters with detailed instructions on providing the value for the mrf_config parameter.
| Note: |
The yaml files included in
the examples folder of the software delivery package serve as
examples for a possible network configuration. They can be modified to match your
network environment. |
Steps
4 Onboarding
This section gives information on onboarding options, and contains procedures on onboarding the Virtual Deployment Package on EO and VNF-LCM.
| Small stack scenario |
In this case, the HOT and environment yaml files of the software delivery package are onboarded on VNF-LCM, and the cloud environment is prepared for the deployment of the VNF (that is, image upload, flavor and network topology creation are handled in the cloud environment). In this scenario, no orchestrator is involved during onboarding procedure. For more information on the small stack onboarding procedure, see Onboard the Virtual Deployment Package on VNF-LCM. |
|
| Full stack scenario |
In this case, besides VNF-LCM and the cloud environment, an orchestrator (namely, the EO) is involved in the onboarding procedure. The cloud environment preparation is the same as in the small stack scenario, while onboarding on VNF-LCM differs slightly from the small stack setup. For more information on the full stack onboarding procedure, see Onboard the Virtual Deployment Package on EO and Onboard the Virtual Deployment Package on VNF-LCM. |
|
4.1 Small Stack Scenario
4.1.1 Onboard the Virtual Deployment Package on VNF-LCM
This section describes how to prepare for workflow-based VNF operations using VNF-LCM. Performing this procedure is a prerequisite for life cycle operations.
Prerequisites
The VNF image is uploaded to the cloud environment. For more information, see the relevant deployment instructions.
Steps
4.2 Full Stack Scenario
4.2.2 Onboard the Virtual Deployment Package on VNF-LCM
This section describes how to prepare for workflow-based VNF operations using VNF-LCM. Performing this procedure is a prerequisite for life cycle operations.
Prerequisites
The VNF image is uploaded to the cloud environment. For more information, see the relevant deployment instructions.
Steps
5 Procedures
The following sections describe how to perform LCM operations.
VNF-LCM procedures utilize workflow instances. Figure 1 shows an example of a workflow instance, where workflow progress can be tracked in the Workflow Diagram view. The Workflow Diagram only represents stages of the various procedures, operations are performed in the Task view.
It is not recommended to execute a workflow instance on a VNF while another one is in progress, as it can lead to unexpected behavior. If a new workflow procedure is needed, the ongoing one must be terminated before starting a new one.
5.1 Instantiate VNF
Prerequisites
The virtual deployment package is onboarded in EO.
Note: The EM-triggered instantiation workflow is only supported in the ECM tenant (the default tenant in EO).
This prerequisite must only be fulfilled for the EM-triggered mode in the full stack onboarding scenario.
The VNF configuration file is available.
Results
The VNF is instantiated, it starts handling traffic after configuration data is provided. For more information on providing configuration data, see Deployment Guide for OpenStack or Deployment Guide for Cloud Execution Environment (CEE), and Initial Configuration Guide.
5.2 Upgrade VNF
This section describes how to upgrade a VNF using VNF-LCM.
To perform this procedure without traffic stoppage, it is required that two VNFs are available in parallel during normal operation. During the upgrade process, configuration data is exported from the VNF selected to be upgraded. The VNF then is locked and removed. A new version of the VNF is deployed with configuration data of the previously removed VNF.
Prerequisites
All parameters are transferred from the old VNF, except for mrf_image and mrf_flavor.
Parameters introduced in the new VNF version are set in the configuration file.
Note: Other parameters in the target configuration file are overwritten by the exported ones.
The virtual deployment package is onboarded in EO.
Note: The EM-triggered upgrade workflow is only supported in the ECM tenant (the default tenant in EO).
This prerequisite must only be fulfilled for the EM-triggered mode in the full stack onboarding scenario.
The VNF configuration file is available.
Steps
To use the optional customer security layer between LM and NeLS in the new VNF, perform the following step before starting the upgrade VNF-LCM operation:
If the Add Network Element in ENM/OSS-RC check box was selected during VNF instantiation:
After this step, the old VNF is terminated according to the termination method chosen in Step 5, and the new version is instantiated with the configuration data selected in Step 7.
If the new VNF fails to instantiate, it is automatically terminated and the old VNF is recreated.
If the new VNF is instantiated successfully, the Confirm upgrade screen is displayed, and the automatic rollback timer set in Step 5 is started.
If the optional customer security layer between LM and NeLS is to be used in the new VNF, perform the following step:
Results
After the upgrade procedure is confirmed, the new version VNF continues accepting new incoming traffic.
5.3 Scale VNF
5.4 Heal VNF
This section describes how to heal a VNF using VNF-LCM.
Continue with this procedure only if the VNF to be healed was instantiated using the VNF-LCM.
| Note: |
This workflow is only supported in OpenStack and CEE deployments. |
Steps
Results
The faulty VM is deleted, but its external storage and network resources remain intact.The ResourceGroup of the VM is marked unhealthy through the HEAT API. An empty stack update is issued, which causes the re-creation of the missing VM with the storage and network resources of the original VM re-attached to the new one.
5.4.1 Configure Auto-Healing
| Note: |
The use of Auto-Healing is optional. |
Prerequisites
The autostart rule file is available.
For more information on Auto-Healing, see vMRF Configuration Management.
Steps
Results
The autostart file is activated, the VNF runs the automatic alarm-triggered healing workflow according to the rules set out in the autostart file.
5.5 Terminate VNF
6 Cancel LCM Workflow
After providing all input to a workflow operation and clicking Submit, a Task is displayed to the right of the Workflow Diagram view that can be used to cancel the current workflow operation
Cancellation of the workflow can be requested in the following cases:
Incorrect input was provided during the workflow preparation.
- The workflow is running for an unexpectedly long time without completion.
Note: Repeatedly refresh the LCM GUI to track the workflow progress and to ensure that it is not stuck.
Steps
Reference List
|
[1] |
System Administration Guide, 1543-CNH 160 9180 |
|
[2] |
VNF-Lifecycle Manager System Administration Guide, 1543-APR 901 0578 |

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