France-based international services provider Orange has integrated passive virtual probes from EXFO into the Beijing Release of the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP). The vProbe virtual network function (VNF) aims to provide service assurance for software-defined networking/network functions virtualization (SDN/NFV) commercial deployments as well as monitoring and troubleshooting of the end customer service quality.
The ONAP project launched in 2017 with the merger of the ECOMP and OPEN-O initiatives (see “Open Source ECOMP, OPEN-O merge to form ONAP Project”). The result is a platform that enables network operators to automate, design, orchestrate, and manage services and virtual functions. The project announced the Beijing Release, the platform’s second release, this past June. In addition to several performance enhancements, Beijing moved the platform closer to supporting container-based applications.
Orange and EXFO say the integration of vProbes improves the reliability of ONAP powered networks by enhancing end-to-end on-demand monitoring and troubleshooting. Users can set parameters based on a variety of metrics, such as service degradation and customer complaints and implement the capabilities based on specific events, such as new service turnup. The companies say they also will define a reference design for virtualized service assurance over 4G/LTE networks.
"As we transform our network, we are partnering with innovative and disruptive vendors to support our move to open source technologies like ONAP to guarantee our software independence and openness," said Eric Debeau, head of Orange's Network Automation Platform Team. "Orange and EXFO have successfully removed a major barrier to ONAP deployment: the lack of monitoring solutions for dynamic, orchestrated virtual networks. EXFO's unique on-demand provisioning of virtual passive probes significantly reduces the resources required to check service availability and troubleshoot issues. The solution enables service assurance for network virtualization through adaptive, permanent or on-demand monitoring solutions."
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher
Stephen Hardy has covered fiber optics for more than 15 years, and communications and technology for more than 30 years. He is responsible for establishing and executing Lightwave's editorial strategy across its digital magazine, website, newsletters, research and other information products. He has won multiple awards for his writing.
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