IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking

IBM Thought Leadership Whitepaper

Telecommunications

IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking

IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking 2

Contents1. Introduction.....................................................................................3

2. Why choose IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking?.................4

3. Success factors for Cloud Based Networking?...........................6

3.1 Agile network Dev/Ops....................................................7

3.2 Real time operations........................................................8

3.3 One Cloud for Networking and IT...................................9

3.4 Agility coupled with Operational trust.........................9

4. IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networks...........................................10

4.1 Integrated service Design, Orchestration and Operational readiness.....................................................10

4.2 Analytics driven Operations and Orchestration.........12

4.3 NFV/SDN Content...........................................................14

5. Real time OSS example...............................................................16

6. IBM’s NFV/SDN Partner Ecosystem...........................................18

7. For more information...................................................................19


1. Introduction

Time to market for new services reduced from months to hours.

NFV is transforming the way networks are architected and deployed.

A new integrated model is emerging for real time management and orchestrating of Cloud Based Networking infrastructure

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) have the opportunity to dramatically reduce the time to market for new services from months to hours by applying virtualization and Cloud computing frameworks to telecoms networks, coupled with adopting agile IT development and operational (Dev/Ops) tooling and methods.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is set to transform the way that digital service providers and network operators architect and deploy networks. NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO), the ETSI defined framework for the management and orchestration of virtualized network functions, places new requirements on OSS processes and vendor systems, to ensure the promised agility benefits are combined with the stringent levels of operational trust that the telecoms industry expects of its network service infrastructure.

As CSPs move to this new era, investment focus shifts from the silo’d fulfillment and assurance telecom operations processes to a new integrated model for real time management and orchestration of Cloud Based Networking infrastructure. This opens up new possibilities for service provider innovation shortening the time to market for new services, lowering OPEX and CAPEX, whilst ensuring operational integrity. This new operations model will require CSPs to transform its processes, skills and culture alongside its technology platform.

Figure 1 Transforming technologies, processes, skills, and culture to a Future Mode of Operation


2. Why choose IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking

IBM provides best practices & Cloud Based Networking solutions for managing network services lifecycles and virtual network functions.

IBM integrates its innovation and expertise in analytics, Cloud, middleware and security to form world-class networking solutions.

IBM delivers business transformation services, pre- integrations & content to speed NFV/SDNadoption.

IBM’s Operations Support System (OSS) offering for Cloud Based Networking is designed to accelerate CSP network transformation. It provides best practice and open technology tailored for CSPs to manage the end-to-end lifecycle of network services and Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). It is built on a world leading technology heritage based on IBM’s investments in Analytics, Cloud, Middleware and Security. World class tooling that today manages the lifecycle of Enterprise Cloud workloads is combined with market leading telecoms software such as IBM Netcool to provide a complete Dev/Ops style platform for Cloud Based Networks.

Analytics capabilities developed by IBM are pervasive throughout the offering driving more efficient infrastructure operations processes. IBM Netcool and Now Factory Analytics integrate with Dev/Ops and Orchestration functions to create a real time feedback loop that proactively heals a network service or optimizes the Cloud Based Networking infrastructure based on current network conditions and customer experience insights.

In addition to core software capabilities IBM is working with strategic partners to deliver a library of network service and VNF lifecycle artifacts to speed NFV/SDN adoption. A roadmap of virtual networking use cases is maintained with partners that includes pre- integration, e.g. to specific network controllers, and configuration examples for VNF on-boarding and sample network services. IBM has decades of experience managing the largest wireline and wireless CSP networks in the world. IBM has published best practices and benchmarks for Telecoms Operations 1 and this insight is designed into our products, solutions, and services so CSPs can benchmark their operations to industry standards.

1 Business Analytics for Telecommunications service Providers. 2nd Edition. Craig Farrell & Piyush Sarwal. Published by Telemanagement Forum


IBM delivers business transformation services, pre- integrations & content to speed NFV/SDN adoption.

IBM delivers business transformation services that help CSPs evolve processes, technologies and organizations to meet new challenges now and in the future.

For over twenty years, IBM has helped Tier 1, 2 and 3 CSPs cost effectively keep their operations running following frequent network vendor updates. CSPs trust IBM for our domain knowledge, long experience and market leading service multi-vendor multi- technology approach to CSP operations. The unique value we offer comes from combining our experience and significant investments in Analytics, Cloud, Middleware, with market leading Telecoms Operational Support Systems. We also have a strong track record in collaborating with network and OSS vendor partners to ensure our customers success.

Working with our customers, IBM delivers business transformation services helping CSPs evolve their processes, technologies, and organization to meet new challenges. IBM networking professionals help CSPs accelerate prototyping and deployment of new solutions, which require resilient, high-performing and continuously available networks. We have invested in Global network Innovation Centers for clients and partners focused on new technology solutions from IBM and partners including Brocade, Cisco, Citrix, Juniper networks, Riverbed, and VMware. Customers can test, integrate and experience new network technologies, integrating current environments and SDN-NFV based networking for interoperability, manageability, and scalability and performance, in a real-time open multi-vendor Cloud environment.


3. Success factors for Cloud Based Networking

CSPs need faster service design and deployment models that enable them to quickly test new service offers.

Convergence is occurring between networks and IT infrastructure into a single Cloud.

Market demands and new technologies have been driving CSPs’ IT and network infrastructure to continuously evolve. To survive and thrive in the current intensely competitive environment with new nimble entrants appearing by the month, CSPs need a faster service design and deployment model that enables them to quickly test new service offers in the market. Traditionally, the lead-time from concept to production for new services could be 6-12 months. With rapidly evolving customer expectations, CSPs need to be able to offer new services and enhancements to Enterprise and Consumer markets within hours.

With open Cloud Based Networks the telecom industry sees a huge opportunity to accelerate service delivery times, and move away from the current unsustainable cost structure based on traditional hardware-centric vendor-specific infrastructure. Converging network and IT infrastructure into a single telecom Cloud will enable agility, an efficient cost-base, and service innovation.

There are three key success factors to building and operating a converged Cloud infrastructure for Cloud Based Networking:

Agile network DevOps. Agile network service lifecycle management enabling network service deployment from concept to deployment.

Real Time Operations. Analytics enabled processes for fulfillment and assurance to deliver real-time, zero-touch operations.

One Cloud for networking and IT. One Cloud infrastructure enabling network and IT with an open architecture, to support multiple locations, domains and platforms.

Figure 2 Success factors for Cloud Based Networking


3.1 Agile Network Dev/Ops

The full value of Cloud Based Networking is realized with the innovation that comes from agile network Dev/Ops.

Agile network Dev/Ops enables the same virtual network environment to be used for service testing.

Historically, it took months to enable, test and deploy new services for operational use. In the software environment available with the Cloud today, software is composed rapidly, tested and moved to production ready deployment through agile development methods and tools. Cloud Based Networking employs a similar approach to rapidly innovate, update and remediate services.

Network service enablement needs to be integrated end-to-end, from concept through design to development and deployment. Agile network Dev/Ops makes it easy take a new service from concept to reality. Using agile methods and tools, network services and functions are composed instead of hardwired. Network services are tested using the same virtual environment to allow for rapid deployment of a test environment with traffic at scale. When service testing is completed, the resources can be re-commissioned for further Dev/Ops or for operational use.

Figure 3 Agility driven by end-to-end integration across all service lifecycle stages


3.2 Real time operations

Cloud Based Networking requires a new paradigm for operational support.

Cloud Based Networking needs one consolidated view of the infrastructure comprising physical and virtual components, and multiple levels of technology across 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and emerging 5G. It also needs to consolidate network, IT and service operations together with visibility of the end-users’ service usage and experience.

Cloud Based Networking requires analytics combining customer and network insight.

Cloud Based Networking requires Orchestration in real time.

In this consolidated operations model for a Cloud Based Networking environment, service assurance in real time is driven by the CSP’s business requirements on the network. Decisions to scale, recover, or retire resources are no longer based simply on availability of a resource or traffic levels but on the type of traffic, and the user experience of a particular service. The operations model needed for Cloud Based Networking requires the use of advanced analytics to bring together the different silos of insight that often occur within a CSP’s organization as technology and territories are deployed.

Having one Cloud requires the ability to provision the combined physical, virtual and network resources and have activation of those resources occurring as needed and synchronized with Cloud application requirements. Automating the process from order to orchestration shortens the time to value for the CSP from days to minutes.

Figure 4 Analytics-driven real-time operational support enables Cloud Based Networking


3.3 One Cloud for Networking and IT

Open architectures also for system flexibility and choice of vendors, technologies and platforms.

The CSP converged Cloud infrastructure needs to embrace an open, distributed architecture with multi-vendor hybrid solutions, to effectively run network services and IT applications.

An open architecture allows flexibility in the system and a broader choice of vendors, technologies and platforms. Open standards need to be supported along with open implementations of those standards, combined with proprietary implementations as required to leverage existing investments. Open standards implementations are available in open source code from OpenStack, OpenDaylight, Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV) and Kernel-based Virtual Machines (KVMs).

3.4 Agility coupled with Operational trust

NFV and SDN drive increased agility while reducing costs.

Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) and Software Defined Networks (SDN) promise the benefits of increased operational agility and reduced infrastructure costs. In this Cloud world where the infrastructure is automatically scaled up or down as needed, CSPs need to have complete trust in the OSS system driving those orchestration decisions. To have operational trust, the system must automatically assure each new service instance as it is deployed, and discover the infrastructure topology in real time to be able to perform root-cause analysis of any issues detected.

Figure 5 NFV/SDN requires service Agility and Operational Trust


The need for agility and operational trust places somewhat opposing requirements on the systems that manage the lifecycle of services and virtual network functions, but without agility or trust the entire platform is not credible. Agile service design and creation requires service definitions to ignore the details of the virtual infrastructure, delegating the placement and instantiation of virtual components to a virtual infrastructure manager. In contrast, operations require a detailed view of how service instances map to virtual network functions, virtual components and specific hardware resources.

4. IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networks

IBM’s OSSsolution for Cloud Based Networking enables CSPs to realize the operational and busi-ness benefits from NFV/SDN based network transformation.

There are three key unique ways where IBM’s OSS solution for Cloud Based Networking enables operational and business benefits:

1. Integrated Service Design, Orchestration and Operational readiness. Service assurance is built into service design in IBM’s Dynamic service Lifecycle Framework.2. Analytics driven Operations and Orchestration. Infrastructure scaling or healing actions are policy driven based on real time service and customer impact. This is enabled by network analytics correlated with real-time discovery of topology hierarchy and service relationships.3. NFV/SDN Content. Content packs will contain NFV service definitions including VNF lifecycle templates, policy definitions and implementations, orchestration workflows, and the operational configurations required to test, secure and assure the network service.

4.1 Integrated service Design, Orchestration and Operational readiness

IBM’s OSSsolution for Cloud Based Networking enables CSPs to operationalize new services at the design stage.

IBM’s OSS for Cloud Based Networks enables CSPs design new services in scale but also to include at the design stage all information required to setup the operational virtual infrastructure to monitor and assure the services. Auto-orchestration of the infrastructure required by Operations de-risks deployment and further speeds time to market.


Figure 6 IBM integrates Dynamic network service Lifecycle Orchestration with Operational Analytics

IBM combines Dynamic service Lifecycle Orchestration with a suite of Operational Assurance and Analytics capability. This allows CSPs to adopt an agile Dev/Ops environment for the rapid design, test and deployment of new network services whilst not letting the operational requirements of setting up virtual probes, agents or testing simulators impede agility. The Dynamic Lifecycle Framework manages the end-to-end lifecycle of a service instance from initial on boarding of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), combining them into service specifications that can be orchestrated and describing the service and VNFs operational KPIs or security requirements.

The service design tooling to create and manage service design assets includes descriptions of how to activate VNFs bundled with service chains into a service Specification. What bridges the gap between service agility and operational trust is that service design includes the operational metrics and scaling policies that are required to monitor and move VNFs.

When a service is instantiated the Dynamic Lifecycle Orchestration Engine stands up the various VNFs, Virtual Machines and also deploys the various operational virtual components required to test, secure and monitor that the service and infrastructure is operational. Workflows responsible for turning on a service are augmented with workflows that automatically provision the operational virtual infrastructure required to monitor and assure it. The orchestration engine provides a library of virtual probes, agents, testers etc. that are deployed in-line with the service and its virtual network functions.


Figure 7 IBM integrates service design with operational readines

Securing the network Cloud is a high priority in delivering operational trust. During the orchestration process IBM’s Security agents are deployed to allow Virtual network Functions to be assessed for vulnerabilities and to generate reports that certify the current state of the environment. For the enterprise market this could be offered as a service component along with the telecom service. For example in a vCPE environment, virtual NAT/Firewalls can be wrapped with security assets and customer specific reporting provided.

4.2 Analytics driven Operations and Orchestration

IBM delivers analytics driven service assurance that combines both network and customer KPIs to monitor the network service quality level and end-customer experience of that service. Policy management is a key capability to process this real time analytic, comparing with operational and service level rules and triggering the orchestration actions needed to resolve issues or auto-scale.

New virtual topology management challenges with Cloud Based Networking.

There are new topology management challenges maintaining and monitoring services end-to-end in a Cloud Based Networking environment. Virtual machines may come and go at the request of the virtual infrastructure to scale up, scale down or move location. The service hierarchy of virtual network functions and their virtual machines could be changing its shape constantly in real time.


This is a significant change in comparison to the legacy world where network topology changes are infrequent and an automated regular network discovery process would not be common practice.

Figure 8 Real time OSS self healing and auto scaling network services

For example, when a service is instantiated, a group of virtual network functions are in turn instantiated by deploying virtual components on a variety of different Servers possibly in different regions or geographies. This service hierarchy must be tracked and maintained in real-time allowing Operations to trust that all is well with the service. Discovering and maintaining the hierarchy of logical, virtual and physical topology in real time is a key new capability needed. In order to analyze the impact of a fault or whether customer experience is being correctly met, Operations need to know the details of what Server a virtual machine is running on, which network function it is a part of, and what service instance is its parent.

IBM’s Dynamic Lifecycle Orchestration solution maintains an up- to-date view of end-to-end services topology.

The IBM Dynamic Lifecycle Orchestration solution provides a real- time network to service repository that maintains an up to date view of end-to-end service instance topology. IBM’s operational analytics ‘listens’ to all orchestration, policy, and virtual infrastructure management events to keep this real time repository up to date.This real time repository is used during correlation to determine the impact of infrastructure faults or performance degradations.


Integrating orchestration with operational analytics for assurance ensures that when a service is instantiated by the orchestration engine, it automatically knows how to monitor and assure the service. Once the service is running, the operational analytics stack in real time keeps an up-to- date view of the end-to-end service instance’s topology. It also keeps an up-to-date view of the hierarchy of services, virtual network functions, virtual machines and servers. As virtual machines are created, deleted, or moved the operational analytics stack keeps track and maintains this hierarchy. Faults, performance issues, or customer experience metrics are correlated against the real time service topology and if needed the service is changed to recover from any issue. VNFs can be scaled up by spinning up new virtual machines or by moving virtual machines closer to the end customer to provide better latency or quality.A key aspect of operational trust is automated healing of the service hierarchy to recover from service impacting infrastructure faults or degradations. This capability depends completely on a tightly linked closed loop service assurance and orchestration process. The assurance process is responsible for continuously discovering all layers of the network topology, updating service layer relationships, monitoring service levels, and triggering orchestration policies to re-arrange a service hierarchy when needed.

4.3 NFV/SDN Content

IBM delivers content packs for a roadmap of NFV use cases to de-risk and speed time to delivery. These content packs provide all that is needed to deliver each virtual network solution.

Figure 9 NFV Content Packs provide pre-configured knowledge for NFV/SDN use cases


Content packs will contain the NFV service definitions, orchestration workflows, and operational component implementations needed to test and assure the network service. service Templates built upon a VNF or a collection of VNFs may also include additional information that is relevant to a service, for instance policy definitions and implementations that must be applied to the lifecycle of the network function or the infrastructure over which it is deployed. These patterns/templates can follow the guidelines from a number of standards organizations or industry leading bodies, such as TOSCA OASIS, or YANG or HEAT Orchestration Templates (HOT).

Designer Tools import these files so that they can be edited, enriched and/or extended with additional components that belong outside the Virtual Infrastructure i.e. Classical / Physical network. Once this process has been completed they can be released onto the service Catalog, which will reflect information that is relevant to the Orchestration for instance the sequence in which a service needs to be deployed. This reduces the complexity of the Orchestration process through the step-by-step guide it provides.

In addition, the content pack may include assurance components including KPI/KQI definitions and vendor integrations, and implementations for Virtual Probes e.g. Now Factory, and Virtual Testers e.g. NG4T.

Figure 10 IBM Cloud Based Networking Solution Content for NFV/SDN


5. Real time OSS exampleThe solution comprises IBM’s analytics driven orchestration and assurance capabilities integrated with Tech Mahindra’s carrier grade Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) solution. IBM’s service assurance capabilities detect performance degradations and root-cause fault/events impacting contracted service levels, driving the closed loop management process where automatic scaling up or down of the infrastructure takes place as needed.

Tech Mahindra’s vEPC includes a custom developed VNF Manager that enhances Open Source Cloud platforms for carrier grade requirements of virtual network functions. The VNF Manager is integrated with IBM’s OSS / Orchestration Stack comprising IBM Cloud Orchestration, IBM Netcool policy, event and performance management capabilities, and IBM Now Factory for performance and customer experience analytics.

Figure 11 Agility driven by end-to-end integration across all service lifecycle stages


IBM Netcool Operations Insight

The Now Factory

IBM Cloud Orchestration

IBM Netcool Omnibus

IBM Netcool Impact

Support for Open interfaces

Support for multi- vendor environments

The solution architecture for end-to-end service assurance for hybrid networks comprises IBM software for service Assurance which includes IBM Netcool Operations Insight, The Now Factory, and IBM Cloud Orchestration.

IBM Netcool Operations Insight includes Netcool/Omnibus and Netcool/Impact at the core with new analytics components implemented around it delivering real-time analytics for operational agility. In addition, it provides embedded search and historical event analytics to speed problem identification and resolution thereby improving operational efficiency.

IBM Now Factory customer and network Analytics provides near real time visibility and measurement of how individual customers use and experience their mobile services. With insight on experience, you can quickly diagnose and resolve customer issues across applications, devices and networks, as well as improve customer management. With insight on usage you can understand what interests your customer and create and target new offerings to increase average revenue per user.

IBM Cloud Orchestration manages the VNF provisioning, operations automation, and lifecycle management along with event reporting between NFVI and the E/NMS. The solution also includes an implementation and support for open interfaces and the data model between OSS and NFV layers. The management layer is a combination of standard off-the-shelf product(s) and custom application(s), which will interface with the multi-vendor NFV environment. IBM’s Virtual Infrastructure Manager (OpenStack) manages the underlying virtual servers, storage and network infrastructure.


6 IBM’s NFV/SDN Partner Ecosystem

IBM and its ecosystem of partners have been developing key use cases to accelerate adoption of Cloud Based Networking. For example, our SDN/NFV solution focus with Juniper includes a pre- integrated vCPE solution. IBM Dynamic Lifecycle Orchestration integrates with Juniper Contrail SDN to automate the orchestration of physical and virtual assets. IBM virtual probes run on the router as a VM and leverage SDN Controller Analytics bringing scale and reliability with a minimum of upfront investment in infrastructure. Our NFV solution focus with Tech Mahindra as demonstrated in the TM Forum ZOOM Catalyst project (featuring Tech Mahindra’s vEPC) is ‘Recover First, Resolve Next – Towards Closed Loop Control for Managing Hybrid networks’.

Figure 12 IBM’s NFV/SDN Partner Ecosystem


7. For more Information

• To learn more about IBM Cloud Based Networking solutions for the telecommunications industry, please contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or visit the following website: www.ibm.com/industries/communications/

• Find out more about IBM Cloud Orchestration, and IT Operations & network Management solutions on IBM service Engage. https://www.ibmserviceengage.com/products

• Read top blogs from IBM Systems Middleware, IT service Management and Netcool community on service Management 360 - IT Operations & network Management.

• Find out more about key IBM products here: https://www.ibmserviceengage.com/it-operations-management/learn http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/now-factory/ http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-Cloud-orchestrator

http://www.ibm.com/industries/communications/

https://www.ibmserviceengage.com/products

https://www.ibmserviceengage.com/it-operations-management/learn

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/data/now-factory/

http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/ibm-Cloud-orchestrator


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IBM OSS for Cloud Based Networking