The Ribbon Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) is an ETSI standards-aligned virtualized application you can use to orchestrate and manage the lifecycle of distributed SBC deployment in an OpenStack environment. VNFM provides an alternative to the use of Heat templates to deploy media SBC (M-SBC) and signaling SBC (S-SBC) clusters in 1:1 HA configurations.
VNFM processes a VNF Descriptor (VNFD) file to define the main properties and the resources required to deploy a VNF. The required SBC VNFD file is provided in a Cloud Service Archive (CSAR) package file in the .csar file for the type of SBC cluster you are deploying. VNFD files cannot be edited; during orchestration, VNFM will prompt for allowed customizations such as the system name and associated EMS system details.
Prior to using VNFM to instantiate SBC VNFs, make sure you have:
The CSAR file required for your deployment must be onboarded to VNFM before you can orchestrate a new SBC cluster. Make sure the CSAR file is in a location accessible to VNFM.
Click Settings > VNF Onboarding. The VNF Onboarding window opens.
After the CSAR file is onboarded the SBC cluster can be deployed. Note that you must have previously created an OpenStack Glance image using the SBC application software .qcow2 file. Refer to Creating a Glance Image within the pre-instantiation requirements for OpenStack.
Select a tenant for the instance in the Tenant Name drop-down list.
This tab also includes a Reuse Pre-allocated IPs check box which enables using the VNFM pre-allocated floating IP feature. Refer to Using the Preallocated IP VNFM feature for more information an procedures.