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API (Application Programming Interface)

An API is a set of commands, functions, protocols, and objects that programmers can use to create software or interact with an external system. Any data can be shared woth an application program interface.

• based on https://techterms.com/definition/api and https://searchapparchitecture.techtarget.com/definition/appli cation-program-interface-API

Automated service provisioning

Automated service provisioning is the ability to deploy an information technology or telecommunications service by using pre-defined procedures that are carried out electronically without requiring human intervention.

• multiple sources including US government documents, e.g. Financial Services and General Government Appropriations for 2016 p.201 (https://books.google.de/books?id=h4SVIm3XaUsC&printsec=frontcover&hl=de&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=201&f=false)

Automation

Processing abstracted service objects in a repeatable manner to yield the same result every time without human intervention.

• internal definition

Cgroups (control groups)

Cgroups are linux kernel mechanisms to restrict and measure resource allocations to each process group. Using cgroups, you can allocate resources such as CPU time, network, and memory.

• https://subscription.packtpub.com/book/application_development/9781785883057/1/ch01lvl1sec15/namespaces-and-cgroups

Control plane

The control plane is responsible for processing a number of different control protocols that may affect the forwarding table, depending on the configuration and type of network device. These control protocols are jointly responsible for managing the active topology of the network.

• Software Defined Networks, A Comprehensive Approach, Paul Göransson, Chuck Black Morgan Kaufmann, 2014

Cross-domain data services

Data services that are delivered across multiple administrative, information or technological domains that allow data sharing among authorized consumers in different domains.

• internal definition based on ETSI GS ZSM 007 V1.1.1 (2019-08): Zero-touch network and Service Management (ZSM); Terminology for concepts in ZSM (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/ZSM/001_099/007/01.01.01_60/gs_ZSM007v010101p.pdf)

Data center interconnect (DCI)

Data center interconnect (DCI) is a segment of the networking market that focuses on the technology used to link two or more data centers so the facilities can share resources.

• https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/data-center-interconnect

Data plane

The data plane (sometimes known as the user plane, forwarding plane, carrier plane or bearer plane) is the part of a network that carries user traffic from one interface to another.

• based on https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/data-plane-DP

Domain

A collection of network infrastructure under the administrative control of the same organisation.

• internal definition based on ITU-T Y.110 TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU (06/98); SERIES Y: GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE; General Global Information Infrastructure principles and framework architecture (https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-Y.110-199806-I!!PDF-E&type=items)

Federated orchestration

Service orchestration performed by multiple autonomous management domains, to effectively allow services to span across several providers.

• internal definition based on https://e-archivo.uc3m.es/bitstream/handle/10016/27125/service_WCNCW_2018_ps.pdf?sequence=1, ETSI GS ZSM 007 V1.1.1 (2019-08): Zero-touch network and Service Management (ZSM); Terminology for concepts in ZSM (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/ZSM/001_099/007/01.01.01_60/gs_ZSM007v010101p.pdf) and https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318473608_Orchestration_of_Network_Services_across_multiple_operators_The_5G_Exchange_prototype
  

Hierarchical orchestration

Orchestration decomposed into one or more hierarchical interactions where parts of the service are delegated to a subordinate orchestrator.

• ETSI GS ZSM 007 V1.1.1 (2019-08): Zero-touch network and Service Management (ZSM); Terminology for concepts in ZSM (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/ZSM/001_099/007/01.01.01_60/gs_ZSM007v010101p.pdf)

Management

The processes aiming at fulfilment, assurance, and billing of services, network functions, and resources in both physical and virtual infrastructure including compute, storage, and network resources.

• based on ITU-T Y.3100 TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU (09/2017); SERIES Y: GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE, INTERNET PROTOCOL ASPECTS, NEXT-GENERATION NETWORKS, INTERNET OF THINGS AND SMART CITIES; Future networks: Terms and definitions for IMT-2020 network (https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-Y.3100-201709-I!!PDF-E&type=items)

Management domain

A collection of physical or functional elements under the control of an entity, aiming at fulfilment, assurance, and billing of services, network functions, and resources in both physical and virtual infrastructure.

• internal definition based on ITU-T Y.3100 TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU (09/2017); SERIES Y: GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE, INTERNET PROTOCOL ASPECTS, NEXT-GENERATION NETWORKS, INTERNET OF THINGS AND SMART CITIES; Future networks: Terms and definitions for IMT-2020 network (https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-Y.3100-201709-I!!PDF-E&type=items) and ITU-T Y.110 TELECOMMUNICATION STANDARDIZATION SECTOR OF ITU (06/98); SERIES Y: GLOBAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE; General Global Information Infrastructure principles and framework architecture (https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-Y.110-199806-I!!PDF-E&type=items)

Microservices

Microservices is an approach to software architecture that builds a large, complex application from multiple small components that each perform a single function, such as authentication, notification, or payment processing. Each microservice is a distinct unit within the software development project, with its own code base, infrastructure, and database. The microservices work together, communicating through web APIs or messaging queues to respond to incoming events.

• https://www.nginx.com/learn/microservices/

NFV

Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) is a network architecture concept that uses virtualization to classify entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that may connect, or chain together, to create communication services. More specifically, it is the deployment of software implementations of traditional network functions (e.g. load balancers, firewalls, office switches/routers) on virtualized infrastructure rather than on function-specific specialized hardware devices.

• based on Dijiang Huang, Huijun Wu, in Mobile Cloud Computing, 2018, (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/network-function-virtualization)

NFV-MANO

(Network Functions Virtualisation Management and Orchestration Architectural Framework)

Management and orchestration (MANO) is a key element of the ETSI network functions virtualization (NFV) architecture. MANO is an architectural framework that coordinates network resources for cloud-based applications and the lifecycle management of virtual network functions (VNFs) and network services. As such, it is crucial for ensuring rapid, reliable NFV deployments at scale. MANO includes the following components: the NFV orchestrator (NFVO), the VNF manager (VNFM), and the virtual infrastructure manager (VIM).

Collection of all functional blocks (including those in NFV-MANO category as well as others that interwork with NFV-MANO), data repositories used by these functional blocks, and reference points and interfaces through which these functional blocks exchange information for the purpose of managing and orchestrating NFV.

• ETSI GS NFV 003 V1.4.1 (2018-08), Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Terminology for Main Concepts in NFV (https://www.etsiadva.orgcom/deliveren/etsi_gsproducts/NFV/001_099/003/01.04.01_60/gs_nfv003v010401p.pdf)technology/what-is-nfv-mano

NFVO

(Network Functions Virtualisation Orchestrator)

Functional block that manages the Network Service (NS) lifecycle and coordinates the management of NS lifecycle, VNF lifecycle (supported by the VNFM) and NFVI resources (supported by the VIM) to ensure an optimized allocation of the necessary resources and connectivity.

• ETSI GS NFV 003 V1.4.1 (2018-08), Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Terminology for Main Concepts in NFV (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV/001_099/003/01.04.01_60/gs_nfv003v010401p.pdf)

Network controller

Functional block that centralizes some or all of the control and management functionality of a network domain and may provide an abstract view of its domain to other functional blocks via well-defined interfaces.

• ETSI GS NFV 003 V1.4.1 (2018-08), Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Terminology for Main Concepts in NFV (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV/001_099/003/01.04.01_60/gs_nfv003v010401p.pdf)

Network function

Network Function (NF) – a functional building block within a network infrastructure, which has well-defined external interfaces and a well-defined functional behaviour.

• ETSI GS ZSM 007 V1.1.1 (2019-08): Zero-touch network and Service Management (ZSM); Terminology for concepts in ZSM (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/ZSM/001_099/007/01.01.01_60/gs_ZSM007v010101p.pdf)

Network function disaggregation (NFD)

Defines the evolution of switching and routing appliances from proprietary, closed hardware and software sourced from a single vendor, towards totally decoupled, open components which are combined to form a complete switching and routing device.

• https://www.metaswitch.com/knowledge-center/reference/what-is-network-function-disaggregation-nfd

Network resource

Physical or logical network component of hardware, software  or data in the data, control or management planes.

• internal definition

Network slicing

Network slicing is a specific form of virtualisation that allows multiple logical networks to run on top of a shared physical network infrastructure.

• https://www.idginsiderpro.com/article/3231244/what-is-the-difference-between-network-slicing-and-quality-of-service.html

OpenStack

Open source software for creating private and public clouds. OpenStack software controls large pools of compute, storage, and networking resources throughout a data center, managed through a dashboard or via the OpenStack API.

• https://www.openstack.org/

Open virtual network (OVN)

Open Virtual Network (OVN) is an Open vSwitch-based software-defined networking (SDN) solution for supplying network services to instances.

• https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_openstack_platform/13/html/networking_with_open_virtual_network/open_virtual_network_ovn

Open vSwitch (OVS)

Open source multilayer virtual switch that supports standard interfaces and protocols.

• based on https://www.openvswitch.org/

SDN

A programmable network approach that supports the separation of control and forwarding planes via standardized interfaces. 

• IRTF, RFC 7426: Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Layers and Architecture Terminology, January 2015, https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7426

Self-configuration

A process by which computer systems or networks automatically adapt their own configuration of components without human direct intervention.

• based on https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/aspect-oriented-self-configuring-p2p/26200 (retrieved Nov. 11, 2019) and ETSI GS ZSM 007 V1.1.1 (2019-08): Zero-touch network and Service Management (ZSM); Terminology for concepts in ZSM (https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/ZSM/001_099/007/01.01.01_60/gs_ZSM007v010101p.pdf)

Service chaining (NFV)

Network service chaining, also known as service function chaining (SFC) is a capability that uses software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities to create a service chain of connected network services (such as L4-7 like firewalls, network address translation [NAT], intrusion protection) and connects them in a virtual chain.  This capability can be used by network operators to set up suites or catalogs of connected services that enable the use of a single network connection for many services, with different characteristics.

• https://www.sdxcentral.com/networking/virtualization/definitions/what-is-network-service-chaining/

Switch abstraction interface (SAI)

Definition of the API to provide a vendor-independent way of controlling forwarding elements, such as a switching ASIC, an NPU or a software switch in a uniform manner.

• Open Compute Project github page, https://github.com/opencomputeproject/SAI

Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN)

Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) enables the encapsulation of Ethernet frames inside UDP packets with a designated UDP destination port (4789). VXLAN allows users to overlay L2 networks on top of existing L3 networks. In the data center, it is commonly used to stretch an L2 network across multiple racks.

• https://github.com/Mellanox/mlxsw/wiki/Virtual-eXtensible-Local-Area-Network-(VXLAN)

Virtual routing and forwarding (VRF)

Virtual Routing and Forwarding is a layer 3 abstraction, which provides a separate routing table for each instance, usually this is done by adding some sort of VRFID to the routing table lookup.

• internal definition

Virtualisation

Abstraction of service objects to make them appear generic, i.e. disassociated from the underlying hardware implementation specifics.

• internal definition