A.2 Management support for NG-RAN overall architecture

28.5303GPPConcepts, use cases and requirementsManagement and orchestrationRelease 17TS

As description in 3GPP TS 38.300 [9], an NG-RAN node is either a gNB or an ng-eNB which are interconnected with each other by means of the Xn interface and connected with 5GC by means of the NG interface, more specifically to the AMF by means of the NG-C interface and to the UPF by means of the NG-U interface. The NG-RAN architecture is introduced in 3GPP TS 38.300 [9], as follows.

Figure A.2-1: NG-RAN Overall Architecture

NOTE 1: The ng-eNB node provides E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connects via the NG interface to the 5GC.

In order to provide management support for NG-RAN, the 3GPP management system needs to support the management for gNB, ng-eNB and 5GC. There are potential 2 management options to support, as follows.

NG-RAN management Option#1

Figure A.2-2: NG-RAN management Option#1

NOTE 2: The consumer behaves as IRPManager in IPR management mechanism of LTE and MnS consumer in service-based management mechanism of 5G.

In the NG-RAN management Option#1:

– The gNB management domain provides MnS (including MnS component type A, B and C) for the management of gNB.

– The ng-eNB management domain provides IRP (including interface IRP and NRM IRP) for the management of ng-eNB.

– The 5GC management domain provides MnS (including MnS component type A, B and C) for the management of 5GC.

NG-RAN management Option#2

Figure A.2-3: NG-RAN management Option#2

NOTE 3: The consumer behaves as IRPManager in IPR management mechanism of LTE and MnS consumer in service-based management mechanism of 5G.

In the NG-RAN management Option#2:

– The gNB management domain provides MnS(including MnS component type A, B and C) for the management of gNB

– The ng-eNB management domain provides MnS ((including MnS component type A, B and C) for the management of ng-eNB. In this case, ng-eNB NRM used as MnS component type B, which means the YAML/YANG solution set for ng-eNB needs to be provided.

– The 5GC management domain provides MnS (including MnS component type A, B and C) for the management of 5GC.