Specialist Task Force 501:
Autonomic and Self-Managed Networks Phase 1 (3GPP)
Who we are:
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What we do
ETSI TS 103 194 defines autonomic networking as a networking paradigm that involves the design of network devices and the overall network architecture in such a way as to embed "control-loops and feedback mechanisms" that enable the individual devices and the networked systems as a whole, to exhibit so-called self-managing properties, namely: auto-discovery, self-configuration (auto-configuration), self-diagnosing, self-repair (self-healing), self-optimization, etc.
ETSI GS AFI 002 specifies a generic architectural model for the management & control of autonomic networks, known as the Generic Autonomic Network Architecture (GANA).
The objective of this STF is to develop a Technical Report on the instantiation of the GANA model on the mobile backhaul and core networks deployed as per 3GPP Architecture specifications.
For more details, see our Terms of Reference
Why we do it
Operators and enterprises are currently facing an increasing complexity of network management, while at the same time, being requested to reduce their OPEX. Autonomic Networking & Services Management is intended to help them handle both challenges. Started as an Industry Study Group (ISG) and now being a Working Group of NTECH Technical Committee within ETSI, the AFI (Autonomic network engineering for the self-managing Future Internet) group succeeded in producing technical specifications pertaining to Autonomic Networking & Services Management, namely the Generic Autonomic Network Architecture (GANA) reference model and for scenarios, use cases and requirements for autonomic/self-managing future internet.
Though the GANA model was validated in testbeds, a key step towards adoption of autonomics by the industry is to instantiate it onto a set of representative well-known reference architectures in order to enable launching pilot projects on concrete use cases. Accordingly, a major goal of the AFI group is to map and instantiate this GANA reference model onto existing, standardised reference architectures and emerging ones.
In this report, we focus on the instantiation of GANA into the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which functionality will play an important role in future internet/networks. It aims at providing guidance that will help the related industry to start introducing autonomics in their roadmaps and eventually in their EPC product lines
How we do it
The STF team works closely with a steering committee composed of 3 experts in the GANA architecture:
• Ranganai Chaparadza (IPv6 Forum Fellow & Rep in ETSI NTECH AFI)
• Tayeb Ben Meriem and Benoit Radier (Orange Labs, Paris, France)
The work has been split in 4 tasks
• Task 1 : Definition of the 3GPP Reference Architecture considered for fusion with GANA Functional Blocks
• Task 2 : Instantiation of GANA reference model to 3GPP EPC architecture and basic functions
• Task 3 : Autonomic behaviours across multiple segments to enable End-to-End (E2E) Self-Optimization
• Task 4 : Final draft and approval of TR document
A liaison letter has been sent by TC NTECH for comments on the draft to 3GPP SA5 and SA2.
Deliverables
ETSI TR 103 404 "Network Technologies (NTECH); Autonomic network engineering for the self-managing Future Internet (AFI); Autonomicity and Self-Management in the Backhaul and Core network parts of the 3GPP Architecture"
Scope :
This report covers the instantiation of the reference model for Autonomic Networking, Cognition and Self-Management, called GANA (Generic Autonomic Networking Architecture), onto the architecture defined in ETSI TS 123 401 and TS 123 402. It superimposes GANA Decision Elements (DEs) into node/device architectures and the overall 3GPP network architecture, so that the DEs and their associated Control-Loops can be further designed to perform autonomic management and control of the specific resources (Managed Entities) in the target architecture. It develops recommendations on the basic behaviours of the GANA Functional Blocks (FBs) in the above context. 3GPP specifications on policy control (TS 123 203) and network management (TS 123 32x series) are taken into account into the working reference architecture. It also involves the backhaul network and associated interactions between the different entities for an optimization with an end-to-end perspective.
Latest draft version (V0.0.6) available at : https://docbox.etsi.org/NTECH/Open
Time plan
Start: 16.09.2015
Expected end: 30.09.2016
List of milestones
| Mil |
Description |
Cut-off date (provisional) |
| A |
- Progress Report#1 approved by NTECH#13
- Current draft version of the TR with result from Task 1 and Task 2 |
31/12/15 |
| B |
- Progress Report#2 approved by NTECH#14
- Current draft version of the TR with result from Task 3 |
31/03/16
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| C1 |
- Final Report and TR approved by NTECH#16 (14-16 September 2016) and accepted by ETSI Secretariat for publication. |
30/09/16 |
STF Leader: Michelle Wetterwald, michelle.wetterwald@gmail.com