Virtualizing 5G and Beyond 5G Mobile Networks

Virtualizing 5G and Beyond 5G Mobile Networks
Contents
Acknowledgments
Part I Fundamentals of Virtualization in Communication Service Provider
Networks
1 Virtualizing of the 5G Radio Access and Core Network
1.1 Introduction to Virtualizing the Mobile Network
1.1.1 The Beginning of Network Function Virtualization
1.2 Expanding on the First Vision of Virtualization
1.3 Breaking Down the Fundamentals Driving Virtualization
1.4 Applying This Discussion to the Mobie Radio Network
1.5 Transforming the Mobile Network One G at a Time
1.6 Evolving Small Steps on the Gs
1.7 Which Network Is This Exactly?
1.8 Acronyms and Domain-Specific Terms Abound
1.9 Telecom Providers Go by Many Names
1.10 Addressing the Various Audiences
1.11 To Those New to This Industry
1.12 Structure of the Remaining Chapters
1.12.1 The Fundamentals: Chapters 1–5
1.12.2 Engineering of Virtualized 5G and B5G Systems: Chapters 6–11
1.12.3 Future Developments: Chapters 12–14
1.12.4Acronyms and Terms
References
2 Benefits of NFV for 5G and B5G Networks and Standards Bodies
2.1 Why Use NFV for Networks?
2.1.1 Transformation of a Large Legacy Business Is Difficult
2.2 The Existing NEP Ecosystem of Vendors
2.3 Changing Business Models Midstream
2.4 Independent Software Vendors as NEPs
2.5 Green-Field Entrants into the CSP Buiness
2.6 Transformation from Hardware-Centric to Software-Centric Networks
2.6.1 Data Traffic Dominates the Network
2.6.2 There Is a Fixed Cost to Moving Bits
2.6.3 A Tale of Two Models
2.7 Applying the Cloud Model to the Telco
2.8 Paths Taken to Evolve the Telco Network
2.8.1 3G Data Begins to Be the Primary Content in the Network
2.8.2 Interfaces Connecting Endpoints in the Network
2.9 The Ever-Evolving Introduction of Technology into the Network
2.9.1 Making the Network Global
2.9.2 This Global Network Comes at a High Cost
2.9.3 Relating This Back to the 5G Network
2.10 The Drive for Improved Agility and and Efficiency
2.10.1 DevOps and Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery
2.11 Separation between Data Plane and Control Plane
2.11.1 The 5G User Plane Function and Data Network
2.11.2 5G Standalone and Non-Standalone Deployments
2.12 3GPP as the Leading Standard Body for the Mobile Network
2.13 Introducing the International Telecommunication Union
2.14 Other Standards Bodies
2.15 Open RAN’s Role in Virtualizing 5G
2.16 Venture Capital Investments
2.17 Summary
References
3
Virtualization Concepts for Networks
3.1 The Virtualization of the Network
3.1.1 What Is Virtualization?
3.2 Managing the Virtual Resources: Resource Control and Efficiency
3.3 A Brief History of Virtualization Concepts
3.4 Virtualization Through the Ages
3.4.1 The Early Years: Computer and OS Virtualization
3.4.2 The Second Decade of Virtualization Leaves the Research Labs
3.4.3 Smaller Computers Join the Fray
3.4.4 Processes Start Talking to Each Other
3.4.5 Democratizing Computing in the 1980s
3.4.6 1990s: Universality and Independence
3.4.7 2000: The Era of Hardware Efficiency
3.4.8 2010: Control Efficiency
3.5 Cloud Computing
3.5.1 1970–1980: The Embryonic Phase
3.5.2 1990: Distributed and Bundling
3.5.3 2000: The Cloud Becomes a Commercial Offering
3.5.4 2010s: Control, Automation, Orchestration, and Application Engineering
3.6 Network Virtualization
3.6.1 1960–Mid-1980: Roots and Programmability of Distributed Computing
3.6.2 Mid-1980–2000: The Internet Boom
3.6.3 2000–2005: Powerful Application Overlays and Ossification of the Internet
3.6.4 2005–2010: Network Virtualization and Network Slices
3.6.5 2010: Programmability of the Network
3.7 Basic Objects and Data Structures for Network Virtualziation
3.7.1 Network Topology
3.7.2 Addressing
3.7.3 Routing
3.7.4 Resource Management
3.8 Summary
References
4 Data Plane Virtualization and Programmability for Mobile Networks
4.1 Data Plane Acceleration with OpenFlow and P4
4.1.1 Context for Acceleration with OpenFlow and P4
4.2 OpenFlow
4.2.1 Flows
4.2.2 Configuration
4.2.3 System Model and Pipeline
4.2.4 Ports
4.2.5 Group, Meters, and Counters
4.2.6 Forwarding Abstraction
4.2.7 Instructions and Actions
4.2.8 Header and Match Fields
4.2.9 Examples for Matching Headers
4.2.10 OpenFlow Protocol
4.2.11 Distributed Controllers and Flow Visor
4.2.12 Evaluation of the OpenFlow Concept
4.2.13 The Importance of OpenFlow in 5G
4.3 P4
4.3.1 Domain-Specific Programmability
4.3.2 The P4 Language
4.3.3 P4 Concept
4.3.4 Data Plane Forwarding and P4 Enhancements
4.3.5 Portable Switch Architecture
4.3.6 Programming a P4 Device
4.3.7 The P4 Language
4.3.8 P4 Runtime Architecture
4.3.9 Evaluation of P4
4.4 Conclusion
References
5 Performance of Infrastructures for Virtual Network Functions
5.1 Performance and Security Considerations
5.1.1 Virtualization Modes and Requirements
5.1.2 Sharing, Aggregation, and Emulation in Virtualization
5.2 Performance Evaluation Concepts for the Sharing of Resources
5.2.1 Networking Scenario
5.2.2 Mathematical Concept
5.2.3 Mathematics Model
5.2.4 A More Realistic Description of the Impact
5.2.5 Smallest Timescale and Timescale Analysis
5.2.6 Capabilities and Conclusion
5.3 Performance Evaluation Concepts for the Aggregation of Resources
5.3.1 Foundations
5.4 CPU Pinning
5.5 Non-Uniform Memory Access
5.6 Conclusion
References
Part II Engineering of Virtualized 5G and
6 Transforming and Disaggregation in 5G and B5G Networks
6.1 The Transforming and Disaggregation
6.1.1 Challenges to Transforming the Telco Network
6.2 DevOps: A Method to Improve System Management
6.3 Telco DevOps
6.4 Transforming the Operations in the Network
6.5 Rolling out 5G in the Network
6.5.1 5G Non-Standalone and Standalone Considerations
6.6 Private LTE and Private 5G
6.7 The Cost of 4G and 5G Is Changing
6.7.1 Regulatory Considerations
6.8 Security in the Disaggregated Network
6.9 Transforming Operations: A Use Case
6.10 Beyond 5G Market Drivers
References
7
Designing Virtualized RAN
7.1 Virtualizing the 5G RAN
7.1.1 It All Begins with the Standards
7.1.2 Operating Systems of Choice
7.1.3 Supplementation of the OS
7.2 The Continuing Evolution of the Standards
7.3 Attaching the UE to a Network
7.3.1 The Roaming UE
7.3.2 The UE Detailed Signaling Flow
7.4 Initialization of the DU to CU Connection
7.4.1 Back to the UE Attachment
7.5 The 80/20 Rule
7.6 Splitting the RAN: Revisited
7.6.1 FEC Processing and More in the RAN
7.7 Enhanced Common Public Radio Interface: The Fronthaul Interface Transformation
7.8 Summary
References
8 vRAN Performance Engineering
8.1 Network Performance Engineering
8.1.1 5G Drivers
8.1.2 5G Usage Scenarios
8.1.3 5G Spectrum Bands
8.2 5G Functional Split
8.2.1 5G Functional Split Origin
8.2.2 eCPRI
8.2.3 Functional Split Options
8.2.4 Functional Splits Trade-Off
8.2.5 How to Select and Additional Functional Split Options
8.3 5G Deployment Options: SA and NSA Architecture
8.3.1 SA and NSA Deployment Options
8.3.2 Technical and Cost Comparison
8.3.3 Migration Path from 4G LTE to 5G
8.4 5G Roadmap
8.4.1 3GPP Release of 5G NR
8.4.2 5G Services in North America
8.4.3 4G-5G Interworking Architecture
8.4.4 User Plane and Control Plane Deployment Considerations
8.5 Key Challenges in 5G Rollout
8.5.1 System Security
8.5.2 Service Performance and Availability
References
9 Building the vRAN Business: Technologies and Economical Concerns
for a Virtualized Radio Access Network
9.1 What Are the Costs and Opportunities of 5G?
9.2 The 5G Business Outcome
9.3 New Models to Address the TCO
9.4 The oRAN Model Introduces a RAN Intelligent Controller
9.5 Features of the One-Socket Server
9.6 Open Source Remains a Critical Element to the Virtualization Effort
9.6.1 Open-Source Community in the RAN
9.7 Asymmetry in 5G and the Previous Gs
9.8 5G Market Drivers in Asia
9.9 Business Considerations of Virtualization
9.10 Pro and Cons of White Boxes, Which Are Truly SHVSs, in the vRAN
9.11 Bright Boxes: Standard High-Volume Servers with One or Two Customized Features
References
10
Designing Virtualized 5G Networks
10.1 Successfully Designing Virtualized 5G Networks
10.1.1 What Is Success for a Virtual System Design?
10.1.2 Overall Aim
10.1.3 Efficient Virtualization
10.1.4 Separation and Portability
10.1.5 Open-Source Software
10.2 Open-Source Software for 5G
10.2.1 Why Open-Source Software?
10.2.2 Flexibility and Agility
10.2.3 Speed of Development and Deployment
10.2.4 Low Licensing Efforts
10.2.5 Cost-Effectiveness
10.2.6 Ability to Start Small
10.2.7 Software Security
10.2.8 Shared Maintenance Costs
10.2.9 Enabling Future Development and Attract Better Talent
10.3 5G Open-Source Efforts
10.3.1 Open-Source 5G Core Network Elements
10.4 Design and Performance Criteria for Virtualized 5G Systems
10.4.1 Computer Systems and Software Engineering Concepts for Virtualized 5G Systems
10.5 Computer Systems and Software Engineering Concepts for 5G Functions
10.6 Performance Criteria for 5G Systems
10.6.1 Scenarios and KPIs
10.7 Summary
References
11
Scaling Disaggregated vRANs
11.1 The Disaggregated vRAN
11.1.1 RAN Disaggregation
11.2 RAN Intelligent Controller Overview
11.2.1 Interfaces
11.2.2 RIC Design Principles and Components
11.2.3 Policy Guidance
11.2.4 ML/AI Role in the RIC
11.3 Security Challenges
11.3.1 Key Security Threats
11.3.2 Key Security Pillars
11.4 5G Resiliency
11.4.1 Network Resiliency
11.4.2 VNF Resiliency
11.4.3 Dynamic Rerouting with Live Migration Support
References
Part III
Future Developments in the Mobil
12
Private 5G Networks and the Edge
12.1 The Privatization of the Network with p5G
12.1.1 Usage Scenario and Objectives
12.1.2 Service Objectives and Attributes
for Private 5G
12.2 Technology Overview
12.2.1 Deployment Scenarios
12.3 Multiaccess Edge Computing and Private 5G Systems
12.3.1 MEC Overview
12.3.2 MEC Architecture Elements
12.3.3 Future MEC Solutions for Private 5G Systems
12.4 Business Issues with Private 5G and MEC Systems
12.4.1 Enabling Private 5G Benefits for Applicaitons
12.4.2 SIM, eSIM, iSIM
12.4.3 MEC and Hyperscalers at the Edge
12.5 Summary
References
13 Open-Source Software Development and Experimental Activities
13.1 Introduction
13.2 5G Open-Source Software Packages
13.2.1 Open-Source 5G Core Network Elements
13.2.2 Open-Source Evolved Packet Core
13.2.3 Open-Source Radio Access Network Elements
13.2.4 Open SDR Devices
13.2.5 Open-Source Control and Orchestration
13.3 5G Experimental Networks for US-EU Collaboration
13.3.1 POWDER
13.3.2 Colosseum
13.3.3 COSMOS
13.3.4 AERPAW
13.3.5 NITOS
13.3.6 R2lab
13.3.7 Open Experimental Sites in 5G-EVE
13.3.8 Open Experimental Sites in 5GENESIS
13.3.9 Open Experimental Sites in 5G-VINNI
13.4 Summary
References
14 Summary of Virtualization of 5G and Beyond
14.1 Where It All Began
14.2 New Markets
14.3 6G Is on the Horizon
14.4 Summary of Some Key Factors
14.4.1 A Cloudy Crystal Ball
14.5 Conclusion
14.5.1 Possible Research Areas
References
Glossary of Acronyms and Common Terms
About the Authors
Index