EMS resolution of split-brain virtual network function components

A method implemented by an element management system (EMS) for controlling a split-brain resolution process for one or more virtual network function component instances (VNFCI), the method comprising:

• receiving a VNFCI status notification resumption message, from a peer VNFCI, when the peer VNFCI is active;
• retrieving a timestamp of a VNFCI state change, of a first VNFCI, to an active state from an element VNFCI state database;
• retrieving a timestamp of a VNFCI state change, of the peer VNFCI, to an active state from an element VNFCI state database;
• sending a request to a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to identify if the first VNFCI was is isolating while the first VNFCI was in an active state;
• sending a request to the VNFM to identify if the peer VNFCI was network isolated while the peer VNFCI was in an active state;
• sending a state change request, with an attribute specifying a next state of Standby, to the peer VNFCI when the first VNFCI is identified as having not been network isolated, and the peer VNFCI was network isolated;
• sending the state change request to the first VNFCI when the first VNFCI is identified as having been network isolated, and the peer VNFCI is identified as having not been network isolated, and
• sending, based on a preferred standby designation, the state change request to either the VNFCI or the peer VNFCI when the first VNFCI and the peer VNFCI are identified as having been network isolated, or when a network isolation status of either the first VNFCI or the peer VNFCI is unknown.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising one or more instructions that when read by a processor, of an element management system (EMS) that controls a split-brain resolution process for one or more virtual network function component instances (VNFCI), cause the processor to perform:

• receiving a VNFCI status notification resumption message, from a peer VNFCI, when the peer VNFCI is active;
• retrieving a timestamp of a VNFCI state change, of a first VNFCI, to an active state from an element VNFCI state database;
• retrieving a timestamp of a VNFCI state change, of the peer VNFCI, to an active state from an element VNFCI state database;
• sending a request to a virtual network function manager (VNFM) to identify if the first VNFCI was is isolating while the first VNFCI was in an active state;
• sending a request to the VNFM to identify if the peer VNFCI was network isolated while the peer VNFCI was in an active state;
• sending a state change request, with an attribute specifying a next state of Standby, to the peer VNFCI when the first VNFCI is identified as having not been network isolated, and the peer VNFCI was network isolated;
• sending the state change request to the first VNFCI when the first VNFCI is identified as having been network isolated, isolate and the peer VNFCI is identified as having not been network isolated;
• and
• sending, based on a preferred standby designation, the state change request to either the VNFCI or the peer VNFCI when the first VNFCI and the peer VNFCI are identified as having been network isolated, or when a network isolation status of either the first VNFCI or the peer VNFCI is unknown.