An automated CI/CD process for testing and deployment of Network Applications over 5G infrastructure

Abstract

As 5G standards have largely matured, further enabling the radical development of 5G networks, the pressure for mobile operators to keep up with widening range of industry and contemporary use cases increases. Consequently, many approaches are emerged from the perspective of the vertical's interaction with the 5G system especially while onboarding specific vertical Network Applications (or NetApps). This work discusses an approach which reduces the complexity of this interaction by introducing a novel yet standard based vertical onboarding model. Our approach focuses on preserving interoperability and reproducibility with other systems through the exclusive utilization of data models derived by embracing well-known industry standards. Being also pragmatic, the mechanisms presented in this paper are implemented and applied in a large distributed 5G infrastructure.

Implementing a holistic approach to facilitate the onboarding, deployment and validation of NetApps

“…To onboard, i.e., to upload, the artifacts that compose a NetApp, a triplet model is adopted within the project's scope, as introduced in [2]. In short, this triplet is formed by: (i) the NFV artifacts that define the NetApp itself, i.e., NSD(s) and VNFDs; (ii) the NEST descriptor with network requirements and characteristics that specify the network slice to be deployed; and (iii) the Test Descriptor that defines the set of tests to be executed to ensure the correct functioning of the NetApp.…”

“…In this way, as a continuation of [2], and contextualized in the H2020 5GASP Project (whose aim is to ease the 5G development process for SMEs), this paper presents a detailed methodology that facilitates the whole NetApp creation process, not only focusing on the development and deployment per se, but also on the inclusion of tests that automatically verify the accurate functioning of the NetApp within the 5G infrastructure. Additionally, this methodology also includes a novel onboarding process that automates all these procedures, therefore simplifying their executions.…”

Towards a Fully Automated System for Testing and Validating NetApps

“…This entry-point is provided by the 5GASP NetApp Onboarding and Deployment Service (NODS) and allows the onboarding of a bundle composed of the following elements: (i) the NetApp to deploy, (ii) the testing information of the validation process, and (iii) information about the Network Slice where the NetApp will be deployed. To increase the interoperability of the NODS, the aforementioned bundle is onboarded under the TMF Service-Specification standard [5].…”

5GASP's approach to the onboarding, deployment and validation of 5G NetApps

“…A more extensive elaboration on the above aspects can be found in [2] and [5], therefore is omitted in this work.…”

“…5G Application & Services experimentation and Certification Platform (5GASP) (ICT-41-2020) is an example of a project pushing the development of NFV added value services, striving to create a community of 5G enthusiasts and verticalspecific researchers and developers that shall broadcast knowledge regarding (i) how to design and develop NetApps, (ii) how to test and validate them in real-world like scenarios, and (iii) how to certify them, providing a new layer of trust before they get delivered to a Network Operator [2].…”