Using the Network Service Designer, you can compose a compliant network service template. A network service descriptor is a deployment template that describes a network service's deployment and operational requirement. It is used to create a network service where life-cycle management operations are performed.

Prerequisites

  • Add a cloud to your virtual infrastructure.
  • Add network functions to your cloud.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the VMware Telco Cloud Automation web interface.
  2. Select Catalog > Network Service and click Onboard.
    The Onboard Network Function page is displayed.
  3. Select Design Network Service Descriptor.
  4. Enter a unique name for your network function and click Design.
    The Network Service Designer page is displayed.
  5. In the Network Service Catalog Properties pane, enter the following information:
    • Descriptor ID - Enter the descriptor ID.
    • Designer - Enter the company name of the designer.
    • Version - Enter the product version.
    • Name - Enter the name of the descriptor.
    • Invariant ID - Enter the invariant ID that is unique to the descriptor.
    • Flavor ID - Enter the unique ID for the new flavor.
  6. (Optional) Add one or more workflows to your network service.
    You can add custom workflows using vRealize Orchestrator. For information about adding custom workflows, see #GUID-B3C9B2E3-A7EC-48AC-9A14-72553713086F.
    1. 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
    2. Click Browse and upload a Workflow Engine in the JSON format.
    3. Enter any input and output variables specified in your script and select whether they are required.
  7. Click Update.
    You can modify these settings later by clicking Edit Network Service Catalog Properties in the Network Service Designer.
  8. You can drag Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNFs), and networks (NS Virtual Link) to the design area. You can also drag other Network Service catalogs to your Network Service to create a Nested Network Service.
  9. On each network function and virtual link, click the Edit (pencil) icon to configure additional settings.
    VNF
    • Name - Name of the network function.
    • Description - Description about the network function.
    • External Connection Points - Virtual link for each external connection point.
    • Depends On (Optional) - Specify the VNF or CNF to be deployed before deploying this VNF. In a scenario where you deploy many VNFs and CNFs, there can be dependencies between them on the order in which they are deployed. This option enables you to specify their deployment order.
    CNF
    • Name - Name of the network function.
    • Description - Description about the network function.
    • Depends On (Optional) - Specify the VNF or CNF to be deployed before deploying this CNF. In a scenario where you deploy many VNFs and CNFs, there can be dependencies between them on the order in which they are deployed. This option enables you to specify their deployment order.
    Nested Network Services
    • Name - Name of the nested network service.
    • Description - Description about the nested network service.
    Virtual Links
    • Network name
    • Description
    • Protocol
    When you have finished modifying the settings of an item, click Update.
  10. After adding and configuring all the necessary items, click Upload.
    If you want to save your work and continue later, click Save as Draft.

Results

The specified network service is added to the catalog. You can now instantiate the service.

What to do next

  • To obtain the CSAR file corresponding to a network service, select the service in the catalog and click Download.
  • To remove a network service from the catalog, select the service in the catalog and click Delete.