Linux networking project: ‘expose & orchestrate’ to ONAP
LF Networking (LFN) is the label used by the Linux Foundation to denote the coming together of seven top networking projects.
In other (arguably more straightforward) words, LFN is an open source networking stack.
The openly stated aim of LFN is to increase harmonisation across platforms, communities and ecosystems.
This December 2018 sees new platform releases from ONAP (Casablanca) and OPNFV (Gambia) with additional support for cross-stack deployments across use cases such as 5G, Cross-Carrier VPN (CCVPN), as well as enhancements to cloud-native VPN.
The project’s compliance and verification program has also just announced its expansion into Virtual Network Functions (VNF) testing and is now recruiting beta participants.
General manager for networking at the Linux Foundation Arpit Joshipura suggest that there is ‘growing diversity’ among the of contributors to Open Networking Automation Platform ONAP, a key project within Linux Foundation Networking.
AT&T’s Chris Rice insists that his firm remains committed to actively contributing new code; partnering on new 5G initiatives; orchestrating services across VNFs, PNFs (and soon CNFs (Container Network Functions) as well), plus also developing model driven platform enhancements like the Controller Design Studio.
The team as a whole state that ONAP exists to help end users to automate, design, orchestrate and manage services and virtual functions — they say it has now expanded into a scalable platform with multiple, parallel threads.
Expose & orchestrate
“We view standardisation and openness as critical solution requirements for realization of the dynamic and automated service-driven network, and we are very pleased with the results that ONAP is providing in accelerating speed to market and vendor innovation for our customers”, said Anthony Goonetilleke, group president for entertainment, media and technology at ONAP member Amdocs.
Goonetilleke suggests that he and his team are seeing ‘significant positive momentum’ from customers who are starting to use ONAP to expose and orchestrate their networks-as-a-service.
Also highlighted is OPNFV — a system-level integrations, deployment, testing and feature development project — which is designed to advance the state of NFV around cloud native and moves toward implementing continuous delivery (CD) to support DevOps.
Expansion of the OPNFV Verification Program (OVP) is also underway.
Other ONAP member quotes on the current status of the project are linked here.