Abstract: A resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from a network service (NS) management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference in a NS to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application provide a service management method and apparatus, so as to cover service level indication information at interfaces between various management network elements in NFV MANO, and further perform differentiated resource allocation and fault recovery for services based on the service level indication information. The service management method includes: receiving, by a first management unit, a first message sent by a second management unit, where the first message includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to obtain first information, the first information includes information used to obtain first service level information, and the first information is a network service NS deployment flavor DF or a virtualized network function VNF deployment flavor DF; and determining, by the first management unit, the first service level information based on the first identification information and the first information.

Abstract: A software upgrade method and system which relate to the field of communications technologies. The method is applied to an evolved core packet (EPC) system. The EPC system includes a system manager, a traffic decider, a first service server, and a second service server, and the first service server and the second service server are installed with service software of a first version. As a result, service continuity and stability of the EPC system are ensured.

Abstract: This application provides a method for managing a service in an NFV architecture, and an apparatus. The method includes: generating, by a first network element after receiving a network function virtualization NFV resource change notification sent by a virtualized infrastructure manager VIM, first constraint information used to modify NFVI software and/or hardware; and sending, by the first network element, a first notification message to the VIM, where the first notification message carries the first constraint information, and the first constraint information is used by the VIM to modify NFVI software and/or hardware based on the first constraint information.

Abstract: A resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from a network service (NS) management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference in a NS to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.

Abstract: A traffic handling decision method, a network entity, a computer readable medium, and a traffic handling decision apparatus relate to upgrading a network service function within a mobile communication network. In this context the traffic handling decision apparatus distributes incoming request of the control plane to instances implementing the mobile network function either according to the current software version or an upgraded software version.

Abstract: A resource orchestration entity and a method for enabling end-to-end service reliability and availability with service flow differential deployment of a network service (NS) with one or more service flows in an NS chain comprising one or more network function nodes coupled via a plurality of intermediate networking nodes. The resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from an NS management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference in a NS to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.

Abstract: A control device configured to receive a service request that comprises a request for a resource associated with a network function or a network service in the communication system, obtain a descriptor based on the service request, derive a metadata of a service availability level from the descriptor, obtain a commissioning value, wherein the commissioning value is associated with requirements for a service, map the commissioning value with the metadata of the service availability level, derive the service availability level for the resource associated with the network function or the network service based on the mapped commissioning value with the metadata of the service availability level. A corresponding resource manager derives an assigned resource corresponding to the resource associated with the network function or the network service and the assigned resource fulfills the derived service availability and reliability requirement for the resource.

Abstract: Embodiments of this application provide a service management method and apparatus, so as to cover service level indication information at interfaces between various management network elements in NFV MANO, and further perform differentiated resource allocation and fault recovery for services based on the service level indication information. The service management method includes: receiving, by a first management unit, a first message sent by a second management unit, where the first message includes first identification information, the first identification information is used to obtain first information, the first information includes information used to obtain first service level information, and the first information is a network service NS deployment flavor DF or a virtualized network function VNF deployment flavor DF; and determining, by the first management unit, the first service level information based on the first identification information and the first information.

Abstract: A software upgrade method and system which relate to the field of communications technologies. The method is applied to an evolved core packet (EPC) system. The EPC system includes a system manager, a traffic decider, a first service server, and a second service server, and the first service server and the second service server are installed with service software of a first version. As a result, service continuity and stability of the EPC system are ensured.

Abstract: This application provides a method for managing a service in an NFV architecture, and an apparatus. The method includes: generating, by a first network element after receiving a network function virtualization NFV resource change notification sent by a virtualized infrastructure manager VIM, first constraint information used to modify NFVI software and/or hardware; and sending, by the first network element, a first notification message to the VIM, where the first notification message carries the first constraint information, and the first constraint information is used by the VIM to modify NFVI software and/or hardware based on the first constraint information.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a software modification initiation method. The method can include receiving, by a VNFM, a VNF LCM request sent by an NFVO. The VNF LCM request may include an instance identifier of a VNF instance of to-be-modified first-version VNF software. The method can include determining, by the VNFM, that a type of the VNF LCM request indicates a software modification operation, and obtaining metadata according to the VNF LCM request. The metadata may include a version identifier of the first-version VNF software and a software modification type. The method can include determining, by the VNFM, a first VNF instance of the first-version VNF software based on the instance identifier of the VNF instance of the to-be-modified first-version VNF software. The method can also include initiating, by the VNFM, a software modification operation for the first VNF instance of the first-version VNF software based on the software modification type.

Abstract: A resource orchestration entity and a method for enabling end-to-end service reliability and availability with service flow differential deployment of a network service (NS) with one or more service flows in an NS chain comprising one or more network function nodes coupled via a plurality of intermediate networking nodes. The resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from an NS management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference in a NS to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a service availability level of a to-be-deployed service; determining, based on an availability policy library and according to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service, availability-related parameter information of a resource corresponding to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service; and allocating and configuring the corresponding resource for the to-be-deployed service based on a resource information library and according to the availability-related parameter information of the resource corresponding to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service, where the resource includes at least one of the following: an infrastructure resource, a non-HA software resource, or an HA software resource.

Abstract: A method and a device for processing a failure in at least one distributed cluster, and a system, where the at least one distributed cluster includes a first distributed cluster. The first distributed cluster includes a first Master node, a first Slave node, a first reference node, and a first secondary node that serves as a backup of the first Master node. The first secondary node receives a heartbeat message that includes first indication information. The first secondary node determines, according to the first indication information, that the first reference node is disconnected from the first Master node. The first secondary node determines that the first secondary node is also disconnected from the first Master node when it is detected that a heartbeat message from the first Master node to the first secondary node is interrupted. The first secondary node determines the first Master node is faulty.

Abstract: A resource orchestration entity and a method for enabling end-to-end service reliability and availability with service flow differential deployment of a network service (NS) with one or more service flows in an NS chain comprising one or more network function nodes coupled via a plurality of intermediate networking nodes. The resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from an NS management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference of the service flow to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a software modification initiation method. The method can include receiving, by a VNFM, a VNF LCM request sent by an NFVO. The VNF LCM request may include an instance identifier of a VNF instance of to-be-modified first-version VNF software. The method can include determining, by the VNFM, that a type of the VNF LCM request indicates a software modification operation, and obtaining metadata according to the VNF LCM request. The metadata may include a version identifier of the first-version VNF software and a software modification type. The method can include determining, by the VNFM, a first VNF instance of the first-version VNF software based on the instance identifier of the VNF instance of the to-be-modified first-version VNF software. The method can also include initiating, by the VNFM, a software modification operation for the first VNF instance of the first-version VNF software based on the software modification type.

Abstract: A control device configured to receive a service request that comprises a request for a resource associated with a network function or a network service in the communication system, obtain a descriptor based on the service request, derive a metadata of a service availability level from the descriptor, obtain a commissioning value, wherein the commissioning value is associated with requirements for a service, map the commissioning value with the metadata of the service availability level, derive the service availability level for the resource associated with the network function or the network service based on the mapped commissioning value with the metadata of the service availability level. A corresponding resource manager derives an assigned resource corresponding to the resource associated with the network function or the network service and the assigned resource fulfills the derived service availability and reliability requirement for the resource.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a service availability level of a to-be-deployed service; determining, based on an availability policy library and according to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service, availability-related parameter information of a resource corresponding to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service; and allocating and configuring the corresponding resource for the to-be-deployed service based on a resource information library and according to the availability-related parameter information of the resource corresponding to the service availability level of the to-be-deployed service, where the resource includes at least one of the following: an infrastructure resource, a non-HA software resource, or an HA software resource.

Abstract: A resource orchestration entity and a method for enabling end-to-end service reliability and availability with service flow differential deployment of a network service (NS) with one or more service flows in an NS chain comprising one or more network function nodes coupled via a plurality of intermediate networking nodes. The resource orchestration entity is arranged to obtain an information element of service availability level in at least one descriptor for defining the service availability level requirements of the service flow from an NS management entity, and provide the information element of service availability level together with an identification reference of the service flow to a resource management entity for assigning resources comprising network function nodes and their inter-connections in virtual network laying on the network hardware comprising networking nodes when instantiating the NS comprising service flows in the NS chain.