What Is Open Network Automation Platform (Onap)?

Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) is a comprehensive platform designed to automate the management and orchestration of network services. It is a collaborative project within the Linux Foundation that aims to accelerate the adoption of network automation in the telecommunications industry.

ONAP brings together the best practices and tools from various open source projects to create a unified platform for network automation. It provides a common framework for managing virtualized network functions (VNFs) and physical network functions (PNFs) in a multi-vendor environment.

One of the key features of ONAP is its ability to automate the entire lifecycle of network services, from design and creation to deployment and monitoring. This automation helps service providers reduce operational costs, improve service quality, and accelerate the delivery of new services to their customers.

ONAP is built on a modular architecture that allows for flexibility and scalability. It consists of several key components, including the Service Design and Creation (SDC) module, the Policy Framework (POL) module, the Service Orchestrator (SO) module, and the Active and Available Inventory (AAI) module.

The SDC module is responsible for designing and creating network services using a graphical user interface. It allows service providers to define service templates, specify service requirements, and validate service designs before deployment.

The POL module provides a policy-driven framework for enforcing business rules and service level agreements (SLAs) across the network. It allows service providers to define policies that govern how network resources are allocated and managed.

The SO module is the core orchestration engine of ONAP. It is responsible for deploying and managing network services across a distributed environment. It uses a combination of automation and intelligence to optimize service delivery and ensure service quality.

The AAI module provides a centralized inventory of network resources and services. It allows service providers to track the physical and virtual resources in their network, as well as the relationships between them. This information is critical for efficient service provisioning and troubleshooting.

In addition to these core modules, ONAP also includes a number of other components that provide additional functionality, such as the Multi-VIM (Virtual Infrastructure Manager) module for managing virtualized resources, the DCAE (Data Collection, Analytics, and Events) module for collecting and analyzing network data, and the VNF Validation Program (VVP) for certifying VNFs for use in the ONAP platform.

Overall, ONAP represents a significant step forward in the evolution of network automation. By providing a unified platform for managing and orchestrating network services, ONAP helps service providers streamline their operations, improve service quality, and accelerate innovation. As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve towards virtualized and software-defined networks, ONAP will play a key role in shaping the future of network automation.

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