Configuring the PNF descriptor

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Specify the settings of the physical network function in a PNF descriptor in YAML or XML format, then add the PNF descriptor to the root directory of the PNF package. A PNF descriptor has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

name

Name of the physical network function.

description

Brief description of the physical network function.

description_file

Name of the PDF file with the technical documentation or specification of the physical network function. This file must be placed in the root directory of the PNF package. Users can view and download the file in the orchestrator web interface.

Optional parameter.

provider

Provider of the physical network function.

version

Version of the physical network function.

external_connections

External connection points of the physical network function.

internal_connections

Internal connection points of VDUs that are part of the physical network function.

This section is optional.

configurations

Scripts for performing actions at various stages of the physical network function lifecycle, for example, during deployment of the physical network function.

flavours

Flavours of the physical network function. You can select one of the specified flavours of the physical network function in the orchestrator web interface.

scaling

Physical network function scaling parameters.

This section is optional.

user_configurations

Orchestrator web interface inputs that are added to the settings area of the physical network function.

This section is optional.

backups

Physical network function backup tasks.

This section is optional.

PNF descriptor example

external_connections

The external_connections section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the external connection point.

 

description

Brief description of the external connection point.

ip

IP address of the external connection point. Enter a value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

192.168.110.126

mask

Subnet mask of the external connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    255.255.255.0

    The subnet mask is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the subnet mask cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The subnet mask is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

gw

IP address of the gateway of the external connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    192.168.110.126

    The IP address is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the IP address cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The IP address is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

Optional parameter.

dns

IP address of the DNS server of the external connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    192.168.110.126

    The IP address is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the IP address cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The IP address is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

Optional parameter.

group

The group to which the external connection point belongs.

This setting is required if multiple VDUs within the physical network function use the same external connection point.

Example of this section

internal_connections

The internal_connections section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the internal connection point.

 

description

Brief description of the internal connection point.

ip

IP address of the internal connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    192.168.110.126

    The IP address is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the IP address cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The IP address is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

mask

Subnet mask of the internal connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    255.255.255.0

    The subnet mask is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the subnet mask cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The subnet mask is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

gw

IP address of the gateway of the internal connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    192.168.110.126

    The IP address is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the IP address cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The IP address is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

Optional parameter.

dns

IP address of the DNS server of the internal connection point. Possible values:

  • Value in the XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX format, for example:

    192.168.110.126

    The IP address is assigned using DHCP via MAC-based reservation of an OpenStack port. In this case, the IP address cannot be changed.

  • AUTO — The IP address is assigned automatically using an external DHCP server or a script from the configurations section.

Optional parameter.

group

The group to which the internal connection point belongs.

This setting is required if multiple VDUs within the physical network function use the same internal connection point.

Example of this section

configurations

The configurations section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the script.

 

filename

File name of the script or Ansible playbook. You must place the script in the /scripts directory of the PNF package.

stage

The stage of operation of the physical network function at which the script runs. Possible values:

executor

Script interpreter. Possible values:

  • ansible
  • expect
  • /bin/sh
  • bin/bash
  • <path to the custom script interpreter>, for example /usr/bin/php.

authentication

Method for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function for running scripts. Possible values:

  • key means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function using a key that is generated when that physical network function is deployed. You need to use a script to get the key, so we recommend not to specify this value for the first script.
  • password means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function with a user name and password from the flavours → vdus section.

files_path

Path to files for running scripts using SSH. You need to create a directory in the /scripts directory of the PNF package and place the files in that directory. The files are copied to the VDU.

Optional parameter.

timeout

The time to wait for the script to finish, in seconds. If the script does not finish within the specified time, execution is terminated. The timeout starts at the moment the script is run.

You can specify this parameter if you have specified a path to a custom script executor for the executor parameter.

Example of this section

flavours

The flavours section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the deployment option.

 

description

Brief description of the flavour.

position

Sequential number of the flavour. The flavour with the lowest position has the lowest performance.

management

Parameters of VDU administration consoles.

vdus

VDU settings.

The management section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

ssh

Settings for managing VDUs using the SSH console.

 

- vdu_name

Name of the VDU.

 

def_user

User name for establishing the SSH session.

authentication

Method for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function for running scripts. Possible values:

  • key means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function using a key that is generated when that physical network function is deployed. You need to get the key using a script from the configurations section.
  • password means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function with a user name and password from the vdus section.

web

Settings for managing VDUs using the web console.

 

- vdu_name

Name of the VDU.

 

protocol

Protocol for connecting to the web console. Possible values:

  • http
  • https

port

Port for connecting to the web console. Enter a value in the range of 1 to 65,536. By default, port 80 is used.

path

Path to the web console.

def_user

User name for authenticating in the web console.

def_password

Password for authenticating in the web console.

The vdus section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the VDU.

 

password_rules

VDU password requirements. This section is optional.

 

length

Minimum length of the password.

use_upper_case

Users must use uppercase characters in the password. Possible values:

  • true
  • false

use_lower_case

Users must use lowercase characters in the password. Possible values:

  • true
  • false

use_digits

Users must use numerals in the password. Possible values:

  • true
  • false

specific_symbols

Whether users must use special characters in the password, such as:

@"!

specific_symbols_min_usage

Minimum number of special characters that must be present in the password.

check_connection_mode

Type of VDU availability test performed during deployment. By default, an SSH test is performed. Possible values:

  • ssh
  • none

Optional parameter.

zabbix_template

Name of the Zabbix template for the VDU.

monitoring_type

Monitoring type of the physical network function. Possible values:

  • agent means monitoring using a Zabbix agent.
  • snmp means monitoring using the SNMP protocol.

ssh_port

Port number for establishing an SSH session.

Optional parameter.

ssh_host_key_algorithm

The host key algorithm used. Possible values:

  • ssh-rsa.
  • ssh-ed25519. We recommend using this host key algorithm because it is cryptographically strong.

If you do not specify this setting, the ssh-rsa algorithm is used by default.

configurations

Names of scripts from the configurations section to be run on the VDU. Specify a list of values, for example:

vdu_name:

- config_1

- config_2

backups

Names of backup tasks from the backups to be used on the VDU. Specify a list of values, for example:

vdu_name:

- backup_1

- backup_2

This section is optional.

def_user

User name for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function.

Optional parameter.

def_password

Password for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function.

Optional parameter.

password_authentication

Password authentication of the VNFM in the physical network function. Possible values:

  • yes
  • no

Optional parameter.

network_interfaces

Network interface settings

 

- name

Name of the network interface.

 

type

Type of the network interface. Possible values:

  • data is a network interface for data transfer.
  • management is a management network interface that is mapped to a network port.

description

Brief description of the network interface.

connection_point_ref

Name of the external connection point from the external_configurations section for the management network interface.

auto_healing

VDU auto-healing parameters.

 

triggers_set

External triggers that initiate VDU auto-healing. Possible values:

  • any to have any external trigger initiate VDU auto-healing.
  • all to initiate VDU auto-healing if all specified external triggers are triggered.
  • <trigger name> to initiate VDU auto-healing when the specified external trigger is triggered.

triggers

External triggers.

 

- name

Name of the external trigger. Possible values:

  • unreachable
  • scale_up
  • scale_down

action_set

Action to perform when an external trigger is triggered.

 

- type

Type of action. Possible values:

  • reboot to restart the VDU.
  • script to run the specified script.

configuration_name_ref

Name of the script from the configuration section that is run when an external trigger is triggered.

This parameter must be specified if as the - type, you selected script.

Example of this section

scaling

The scaling section has the following structure:

Parameter

Description

scale_up_status

Vertical scaling to a scaling option with a lower sequential number. Possible values:

  • permit
  • deny

scale_down_status

Vertical scaling to a scaling option with a higher sequential number. Possible values:

  • permit
  • deny

Example of this section

user_configurations

The user_configurations section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

tab

Tabs that are added to the settings area of the physical network function.

- name

Name of the tab.

 

variables

Orchestrator web interface inputs that are displayed on the tab.

- name

Name of the orchestrator web interface input.

 

description

Brief description of the orchestrator web interface input.

input_type

Type of the orchestrator web interface input. Possible values:

  • input to add a field.
  • dropdown to add a drop-down list.

default_value

Default value of the field.

You can specify this parameter if as the input_type, you specified input.

values

The options that are displayed in the drop-down list.

This setting can be specified if as the input_type, you specified dropdown.

- value

The name of the value.

 

is_default

Default value. Possible values:

  • true
  • false

Optional parameter.

required

Required orchestrator web interface input. Possible values:

  • true
  • false

Optional parameter.

type

The type of value that can be specified in the orchestrator web interface input.

Optional parameter.

example

A tooltip that is displayed when the value of the orchestrator web interface input changes.

Optional parameter.

update_configuration_name

Names of scripts from the configurations section that are run when the value of the orchestrator web interface input changes. Specify a list of values, for example:

update_configuration_name:

- config_1

- config_2

Example of this section

backups

The backups section has the following structure:

Section/setting

Description

- name

Name of the backup task.

 

description

Brief description of the backup task.

backup

Backup parameters.

 

path

Path to the physical network function directory where the files that you want to backup are located.

interval

Time interval in seconds for backup.

store_config

Number of backup copies to keep.

backup_type

Type of backup.

authentication

Method for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function for running scripts. Possible values:

  • key means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function using a key that is generated when that physical network function is deployed. You need to get the key using a script from the configurations section.
  • password means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function with a user name and password from the flavours → vdus section.

configuration_name_ref

Name of the script from the configurations section to run before the backup.

restore

Backup restoration parameters.

 

path

Path to the physical network function directory where the restored files are placed.

backup_type

Type of backup.

authentication

Method for authenticating the VNFM in the physical network function for running scripts. Possible values:

  • key means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function using a key that is generated when that physical network function is deployed. You need to get the key using a script from the configurations section.
  • password means the VNFM is authenticated in the physical network function with a user name and password from the flavours → vdus section.

configuration_name_ref

Name of the script from the configurations section to run after the restoration from backup begins.

Example of this section

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