GRF: Generic Rollback Integration Framework for Heterogeneous Network and IT Resources

Network operators rapidly adopt Software Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and 5G technologies. This evolution brings strong softwarization and exponential growth of the operator' IT and network resources. Their relations are unknown and it is difficult to find precise root cause of their failure. In such an environment, the administration and maintenance tasks are complex and error prone - even today most of the failures are originated by a human factor. This paper presents Generic Rollback Framework (GRF) - a prototype of a resource type agnostic integration framework for a rollback that detects an abnormal state of resources and returns them automatically to a previously saved state. GRF utilizes closed loop automation, software distribution and decomposition techniques. The generic design enables unified rollback of composite services by integration of different rollback mechanisms. A use case with an erroneous upgrade and reconfiguration of an SDN service is used for an evaluation of GRF. The results show that GRF offers an insurance against human-based errors while automation of a rollback ensures good service quality.