After you upload or create a network service catalog, you can instantiate it in your virtual infrastructure.

Prerequisites

  • Upload or create a network service catalog.
  • Register any VIMs required by the network service.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the VMware Telco Cloud Automation web interface.
  2. Select Catalog > Network Service.
  3. Select the desired network service and click Instantiate.
    • If you have saved a validated configuration that you want to replicate on this network service, click Upload on the top-right corner and upload the JSON file. The fields are then auto-populated with this configuration information and you can edit them as required.
    • If you want to create a network service configuration from the beginning, perform the next steps.
  4. Enter the following details:
    1. Name - Enter a name for your Network Service instance.
    2. Description (Optional) - Enter an optional description for your Network Service.
    3. Prefix (Optional) - Enter a prefix. All entities that are created for this Network Service are prefixed with this text. Prefixes help in personalizing and identifying the entities of a Network Service.
    4. Use vApp Template(s) - To use a vApp template, select this option and select the appropriate catalog from VMware Cloud Director.
    5. Tags (Optional) - Select the key and value pairs from the drop down menus. To add more tags, click the + symbol.
  5. In the Preview Network Service tab, enter a name for the service, an optional description, review its design, and click Next.
  6. In the Deploy Network Function tab, select a cloud on which to include each network function in the network service.
    Note: For a VMware Cloud Director based cloud, you can use either a vApp template or a template from the vSphere Client. For a vSphere based cloud, you can only select a vSphere Client template.
  7. Click Next.
  8. In the Configure Network Functions tab, click the Edit (pencil) icon on each of the network functions or Nested Network Service catalogs.
    1. For a Nested Network Service, select a pre-deployed Network Service from the existing list of Network Services. This list is automatically curated based on the deployed instances of the Nested Network Service catalog.
      Note: You can only select pre-instantiated Network Service instances for a Nested Network Service.
    2. To deploy a new Network Function, click Instantiate New.
      • Optionally, to select a pre-deployed network function from an existing list of VNFs that are deployed and ready for instantiation, click Select Existing. VMware Telco Cloud Automation auto-discovers VNFs that are part of an SVNFM registered as a partner system, and lists them in the catalog. You can use these VNFs for creating a Network Service Catalog.
      • These Network Functions are curated automatically based on the deployed instances and the selected Cloud.
      • Instantiated Network Functions that are connected to other network services are not displayed in this list.
    3. In the Inventory Detail tab, select the desired compute profile, select the instantiation level, and click Next.
    4. In the Network Function Properties tab, select or edit an internal or external network, and click Next.
    5. In the Inputs tab, provide the required inputs appropriately and click Next.
    6. In the Review tab, review your configuration and click Finish.
    Note: You cannot add a deployment profile or select an internal or an external link on a CNF.
  9. In the Instantiate Properties tab, enter the values for any required properties and click Next.
  10. In the Review tab, review your configuration. You can download this configuration and reuse it for instantiating a network service catalog with a similar configuration. Click Instantiate.

Results

VMware Telco Cloud Automation creates the network functions required by your network service on the clouds that you specified. To view a list of all instantiated functions, select Network Services > Inventory. To track and monitor the progress of the instantiation process, click the Expand icon on the network service and navigate further. When instantiated is displayed in the State column for a network service, it indicates that the instantiation process is completed successfully and the service is ready for use.

What to do next

To view the relevant information and recent tasks, click the Expand (>) icon on the desired network service.

If you no longer want an instantiated network service, click the Options (three dots) icon and select Terminate. Then select the network service and click Delete.