Huawei ME60 VRP8 VRP v8 function introduction

Huawei ME60 support VRP V8 (VRP8) function. In this article, HongTelecom will introduce  VRP8 function in ME60 in detail, we will introduce how to impletment VRP8 function in ME60 in another article.

Introduction of VRP8

Restricted by software and hardware technologies, earlier network device operating systems used monolithic models. The software was compiled into an executive file and executed by an embedded operating system. Only single-CPU hardware was available, providing integrated control management and running all protocols and management data on one node. With the development and popularization of Internet technologies as well as the IP orientation of carrier networks, network devices evolved from single boxes to single chassis to multi-chassis, and single core CPUs have evolved to multi-core CPUs.

Following this development trend to provide higher network reliability and to fully use the processing capabilities of the multi-core hardware, Huawei developed the VRP8 based on pre-existing versions. The VRP8 supports the following features:

• Multi-core or multi-process CPUs
• Distributed applications
• Virtualization for Virtual Routers (VSs)
• NSx, including Non-Stop Service (NSS), Non-Stop Routing (NSR), Non-Stop Bridge (NSB), and Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF) and In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU)
• Netconf and two-phase configuration validation and configuration rollback

VRP8 Componentization

Componentization refers to the method of encapsulating associated functions and data into a software module, which is instantiated to function as a basic unit of communication scheduling. The VRP8 architecture design is component-based. The entire system is divided into multiple independent components that communicate through interfaces. One component provides services for another component through an interface, and the served component does not need to know how the serving component provided its services.
The component-based architecture design has the following advantages:

• Components are replaceable.
  A component can be replaced by another component if the substitute provides the same functions and services as those of the replaced component. The new component can even use a different programming language. This enables a user to upgrade or add VRP8 components.
• Components are reusable.
  High-quality software components can serve for a long time and are stored in the software database. The VRP8 software can be customized to a product architecture that is quite different from its original hardware platform.
• Components are distributable.
  VRP8 components are deployed in a distributed manner. Two relevant components are deployed on different nodes and they can communicate with each other across networks. Component distribution can be implemented without modifying components. Instead, only the data of related deployment policies needs to be modified.

VRP8 Virtualized Hierarchy

The VRP8 supports virtualization by dividing a device into VSs, allowing flexible service deployment. Devices are categorized into VSs based on logical resources.

Figure 1 VRP8 virtualized hierarchy

A PS can be divided into multiple VSs. A VS can be separately configured with services. VSs share a line card's physical interfaces, hardware forwarding resources, and the processing capability of the control plane.
Virtualization techniques provide the following functions:

• Virtualized networks
  VSs of a device are leased to enterprise users and other service providers (SPs), which reduces CAPEX and OPE and provides a higher level of security and reliability.
• Flat networks
  VSs allow one device to have the functionalities of multiple devices, such as provider (P) and provider edge (PE) devices, which simplifies the network architecture and flattens the network.
• Multi-service over a network
  A variety of services are separately deployed on various VSs. These VSs form a logical multi-service network. VSs allow services to be independent of each other, which improves security and reliability and reduces CAPEX and OPEX.
• New service verification
  After a device is divided into VSs, new services such as IPv6 services or video services can be verified separately without affecting existing services. VSs carrying various services form a logical network, which improves security and reliability.

VRP8 High Extensibility

To improve extensibility, the VRP8 supports backward compatibility and plug-and-play functionality on hardware line cards, allowing quick responses to users' demands. The VRP8 implements high expandability for the following items:

• Line cards: Standard driver framework and plug-and-play are supported.
• Software features: The data plane operates based on modules.
• Capacity and performance: Services based on fine-granularity distribution are simultaneously processed.
• Service deployment: Virtualization techniques for dividing a device into VSs are supported.
• Operation and maintenance tools: The configuration plane is separated from the control plane.

The trend is to utilize, multi-main control board, multi-CPU, and multi-core architectures in the development of the hardware on existing core routers. The reason is that traditional integrated OS does not support modular service deployment or processing, and only depends on the processing capability of a single CPU with a single core. The second-generation OS supports coarse-granularity modules, allowing multiple protocols and service modules to simultaneously process services. These OSs, however, are incapable of supporting the processing of protocol- and service-specific distributed instances and are still unable to take advantage of multi-CPU and multi-core processing capabilities. The VRP8 with its fine-granularity distributed architecture and protocol- and service-specific components allows a device to deploy services in distributed instances and to process services simultaneously. This helps a device overcome the constraints of the single entity's processing capability and memory and to take advantage of integral hardware processing capability on the control plane, improving the sustainable extensibility of the device's performance and capacity.

Figure 1 Improving performance and capacity extensibility through VRP8 distribution

On the VRP8, the data plane adopts a model-based forwarding technique. A mere change in the forwarding model, not in code, allows a new function to be implemented or allows a function change on the forwarding plane, enabling quick responses to carriers' demands.

Figure 2 High extensibility of the data plane

To support various network interfaces, an IP network device usually supports various line card types. The problem is that these cards historically needed to be replaced as technology progressed and chips were replaced and/or updated. To help carriers maximize the return on investment and prevent large-scale line card replacement, software needs to support forward and backward compatibility of line cards. The VRP8 implements forward and backward compatibility on line cards over the standard driver framework with the help of software and hardware decoupling techniques.

Figure 3 VRP8 forward and backward compatibility

Advantages of the VRP8 Architecture

The VRP8 architecture has the following advantages:

• High extensibility
  
  • The VRP8 has a layered architecture with clear inter-layer dependency and interfaces and independent intra-layer components.
  • The base framework uses the model-driven architecture technology, with stable processing mechanisms and flexible separated service models, to rapidly respond to customers' requirements for software features.
  • Based on the standard driver framework, hardware drivers support plug-and-play, implementing backward compatibility of interface boards.
  • The virtual system (VS) technique is supported to flexibly extend services.
  Benefits: flexible service operation, timely response to customers' requirements, and smooth hardware upgrades
• High reliability
  
  • Process-based fault isolation is implemented.
  • Process-based NSx helps implement seamless convergence on the forwarding plane, control plane, and service plane.
  • Process-based ISSU helps implement smooth software upgrade.
  Benefits: non-stop service operation with high reliability and reduced operation and maintenance expenditures
• High performance
  
  • Services are distributed in fine granularity and processed at the same time, achieving industry-leading performance and specification indicators.
  • Performance and specifications are expandable and can be improved along with hardware upgrades.
  • Priority-based real-time scheduling guarantees that services are rapidly processed.
  Benefits: larger-scaled service deployment and faster fault convergence, full use of hardware capabilities, and continuous improvement in performance and specifications
• Carrier-class management and maintenance
  
  • The carrier-class configuration and management plane facilitates service deployment and maintenance.
  • The VRP8 provides better fault management mechanisms.
  • The VRP8 provides plug-and-play network device management.
  Benefits: more effective service deployment capabilities, faster service monitoring and fault locating, and lower operation and maintenance expenditures

BOM	license control item	Abbreviations	Description
82400657	ME60 IP Performance Measure License  (IP FPM) for 50G Series Units	LME0FPM02	Controllable feature: This license controls the IP FPM function for 50G series boards.  A device requires one such license to support the function on 50G series boards. Function change description: The board-specific license is changed to the device-specific license.  Board-specific licenses for IP FPM are not available in V800R009C00.
81400764	ME60 GMPLS UNI Function License	LME0S00GMLS00	Controllable feature: This license controls Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS)  User-Network Interface (UNI). GMPLS UNI is a network interconnection interface  standard applicable to the overlay GMPLS network model. GMPLS UNI is  easy to be planned and deployed on live networks. One device requires one such license.  Function change description: None.
88039620	ME60 Quantity of Concurrent  Subscribers(1k Subscribers)	LME0CONN01	Controllable feature: This license controls the number of BAS access users. Each license allows the access of 1000 users. Function change description: None.

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