Page 94 - 5G Basics - Core Network Aspects

1 Core network aspects

4 Abbreviations and acronyms

This Recommendation uses the following abbreviations and acronyms:
FN Future Network

IPsec Internet Protocol security
LINP Logically Isolated Network Partition

MNO Mobile Network Operator
MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator
PNM Physical Network Manager

VLAN Virtual Local Area Network
VPN Virtual Private Network

VRM Virtual Resources Manager

5 Conventions
None.

6 Overview
Network virtualization is a method that allows multiple virtual networks, called logically isolated network
partitions (LINPs), to coexist in a single physical network. In order to provide LINPs, physical resources are
partitioned and abstracted as virtual resources and the virtual resources are interconnected to create an LINP
[b-Chowdhury][b-GENI GDD0608][b-Nakao]. These virtual resources can be created on physical resources
such as routers, switches and hosts. As such, virtual resources are either allocated to each LINP or else
multiple virtual resources are aggregated into a single virtual resource.
LINPs are isolated from each other, and when combined with programmability in virtual resources, users of
LINPs can program the virtual resources on the virtualization layer. In other words, each LINP can provide the
corresponding users with services similar to those provided by traditional networks without network
virtualization. The users of LINPs are not limited to the users of services or applications, but can include
service providers. For example, a service provider can lease an LINP and can provide emerging services or
technologies such as the cloud computing service. The service providers can realize the emerging services as
if they own a dedicated physical network. In order to facilitate the deployment of network virtualization, it is
necessary to provide control and management procedures such as creating, monitoring, and measuring the
status of LINPs.
Figure 1 represents the conceptual architecture of network virtualization, which consists of LINPs over
physical resources supporting network virtualization. A single physical resource can be shared among
multiple virtual resources and each LINP consists of multiple virtual resources. Each LINP is managed by an
individual LINP manager. In the figure, the physical resources in a physical network(s) are virtualized and may
form a virtual resources pool. These virtual resources are managed by the virtual resources manager (VRM).
The VRM interacts with the physical network manager (PNM) and performs control and management of
virtual resources. Once an LINP is constructed by using the virtual resources, an LINP manager is allocated to
the LINP. The LINP manager performs a management function.

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