Virtual Machine Platform Resources

A Virtual Network Function (VNF) requires the CPU core, memory, disk size, and network interfaces specified for operation. The Oracle Communications Subscriber-Aware Load Balancer (OCSLB) uses the Intel Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) for datapath design, which imposes specific VNF resource requirements for CPU cores. Deployment details, such as the use of distributed DoS protection, dictate resource utilization beyond the defaults.

You configure CPU core utilization from the ACLI based on your deployment. You can also define memory and hard disk utilization based on your deployment. You must configure the hypervisor with the appropriate settings prior to startup, if you need settings other than the machine defaults set by the machine template (OVA).

Default VM Resources

VM resource configuration defaults to the following:

• 8 CPU Cores
• 32 GB RAM
• 40 GB hard disk (pre-formatted)
• 8 interfaces as follows:
  • 1 for management (wancom0 )
  • 2 for HA (wancom1 and 2)
  • 1 spare
  • 4 for media

When deployed as a virtual machine, configure the OCSLB for one DoS core and at least two forwarding cores.

Refer to the Platform Preparation and Installation Guide for detail on hard disk layout and partitions. Also note the Oracle recommends that the minimum size of the /opt partition be at least the size of system memory to capture all the information in memory when needed.

Interface Host Mode

The OCSLB S-CZ8.1.0M1 VNF supports interface architectures using Hardware Virtualization Mode - Paravirtualized (HVM-PV):

• ESXi - No manual configuration required.
• KVM - HVM mode is enabled by default. Specifying PV as the interface type results in HVM plus PV.
• XEN (OVM) - The user must configure HVM+PV mode.

CPU Core Resources

The OCSLB S-CZ8.1.0M1 VNF requires an Intel Core2 processor or higher, or a fully emulated equivalent including 64-bit SSSE3 and TSC support.

If the hypervisor uses CPU emulation (qemu etc), Oracle recommends that you set the deployment to pass the full set of host CPU features to the VM.