Re: Has virtualization become obsolete in 5G?

[Shane Ronan <shane () ronan-online com>]

I think you'd be surprised how much of the 5G Core is containerized for
both the data and control planes in the next generations providers are
currently deploying.

On Wed, Aug 5, 2020, 11:02 AM Mark Tinka <mark.tinka () seacom com> wrote:

> On 5/Aug/20 16:15, adamv0025 () netconsultings com wrote:
>
> I was actually talking about routing on the host and virtual control-plane
> and virtualized data-plane.
>
> Currently we either have a VM combining both or a separate VM for each.
> Alternatively we can have a container for the control-plane.
>
> I was wondering if the idea behind containerization is to do virtual
> data-plane as a container as well.
>
>
> Good question.
>
> My understanding of cloud-native that the mobile folk want is to deliver
> over-the-top services, and not necessarily turn containers into
> packet-forwarding routers at scale. However, the question is interesting,
> so we'll see.
>
>
>
>
> In terms of containerization on vendor HW or opening up data-plane, seems
> like XR7 from Cisco is leading the way:
>
> - System runs in containers on RE and Line-cards, allows one to run 3rd
> party containers,
>
> - Allows one to run 3rd party routing protocols to program RIB
>
> - Allows one to program FIB via Open Forwarding Abstraction (OFA) APIs
>
> - And XR itself can run on selected 3rd party HW.
>
>
>
> That pretty much covers all the avenues we as operators are interested in,
> of course it’s not all just roses and unicorns and there will be further
> development and streamlining necessary.
>
>
> That's a good start, indeed. Do we know if Cisco are opening up their own
> data plane, or Broadcom ones?
>
> Mark.