A Cloud Native Network Function Descriptor (CNFD) file describes the instantiation parameters and operational behaviors of the CNFs. You can design SOL001-compliant CNFDs using the Network Function Designer tool in VMware Telco Cloud Automation.
Prerequisites
Add a cloud to your virtual infrastructure.
Procedure
- Log in to the VMware Telco Cloud Automation web interface.
- Select Network Functions > Catalog and click Onboard.
The Onboard Network Function page is displayed.
- Select Design Network Function Descriptor.
- Name - Enter a unique name for your VNF descriptor.
- Tags (Optional)- Enter the tags to associate your VNF descriptor with.
- Type - Select the network function type as Cloud Native Network Function.
- Click Design.
The Network Function Designer is displayed.
- In the Network Function Catalog Properties pane, enter the following information:
- (Optional) Description - Enter the description of the network function.
- Version - Enter the version of the network function.
- In the Network Function Properties pane, enter the following information:
- Descriptor Version - Enter the descriptor version.
- Provider - Enter the company name of the provider.
- Product Name - Enter the product name of the descriptor.
- Version - Enter the product version.
- Software Version - Enter the software version.
- In the Available Operations pane, select the life-cycle management operations to be made available for your CNF. Your users can run only those operations that are enabled here.
- (Optional) Add one or more workflows to your network function.
You can add custom workflows using vRealize Orchestrator. For information about adding custom workflows, see
Running Workflows with vRealize Orchestrator.
- Click Add Workflow and select the desired workflow from the drop-down menu:
- Instantiate Start
- Instantiate End
- Heal Start
- Heal End
- Scale Start
- Scale End
- Scale to Level Start
- Scale to Level End
- Terminate Start
- Terminate End
- Custom
- Click Browse and upload an instantiation script in the JSON format.
- Select Manual Execution if you want your users to run the workflows manually.
- Enter any input and output variables specified in your script and select whether they are required.
- Click Update.
You can modify these settings later by clicking
Edit Network Function Catalog Properties in the Network Function Designer.
- From the Components toolbar, drag a Helm Chart into the design area. Helm is a Kubernetes application manager used for deploying CNFs. Helm Charts contain a collection of files that describe a set of Kubernetes resources. Helm uses the resources from Helm Charts to orchestrate the deployment of CNFs on a Kubernetes cluster.
- In the Configure Helm window, enter the following details:
- Name - Name of the Helm.
- Description - A brief description about the Helm.
- Chart Name - Name of the chart from the Helm repository.
- Chart Version - Version number of the chart from the Helm repository.
- Helm Version - Select the version of the Helm from the drop-down menu.
- ID - Enter the Helm ID.
- (Optional) Helm Property Overrides - Add additional instantiation properties to override or add a YAML file that contains a list of properties to override. To upload a YAML file, enter the filename in the Property text box and select the Type as File. You must upload the YAML file during instantiation.
- (Optional) Helm Scale Properties - You can add the helm properties required for scale. You can also specify if the property is mandatory or optional for scale.
- (Optional) Depends On - Specify the Helm to be deployed before deploying this Helm. In a scenario where you deploy many Helms, there can be dependencies between the Helms regarding the order in which they are deployed. This option enables you to specify their deployment order.
- Click Update.
- To save your descriptor as a draft and work on it later, click Save As Draft. For information about working with different draft versions, see Edit Network Function Descriptor Drafts.
- After designing your network function descriptor, click Upload.
Results
The specified network function is added to the catalog. You can now instantiate the function or use it to create a network service.
What to do next
- To instantiate the network function, see Instantiate a Virtual Network Function.
- To create a network service that includes the network function, see Design a Network Service Descriptor.
- To create the infrastructure requirements, see Infrastructure Requirements Designer.
- To obtain the CSAR file corresponding to a network function, select the function in the catalog and click Download.
- To add or remove tags, go to Network Functions > Catalog and click the desired network function. Then click Edit.
- To remove a network function from the catalog, stop and delete all instances using the network function. Then select the function in the catalog and click Delete.