EMS assisted split-brain resolution in virtual network function components

A method implemented via a server hosting an element management system (EMS) controlling a fault handling process for one or more virtual network function component instances (VNFCI), wherein a VNFCI is in an Active operational state, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a peer VNFCI, a heartbeat message indicating that the peer VNFCI is in an Active operational state;
• sending, by the VNFCI, a heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state;
• constructing, by the VNFCI, a next state request message to the EMS, the next state request message including a parameter indicating a current operational state of the VNFCI and a parameter indicating a split-brain condition;
• starting, by the VNFCI, a response timer;
• when the VNFCI receives a next state response message from the EMS and a VNFCI response state of the VNFCI indicated by the next state response message is an Active operational state, sending, by the VNFCI, a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state and that the VNFCI has a desired operational state of Active;
• when the VNFCI receives the next state response message from the EMS and the VNFCI response state indicated by the next state response message is Standby, transitioning the VNFCI to a Deactivating state;
• when the response timer expires without receiving the next state response message from the EMS, and the VNFCI is not a preferred Standby instance, sending, by the VNFCI, the second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state and that the VNFCI has the desired operational state of Active;
• and
• when the response timer expires without receiving the next state response message from the EMS, and the VNFCI is the preferred Standby instance, transitioning the VNFCI to the Deactivating state.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when read by a processor cause the processor to perform:

• receiving, at a virtual network function component instances (VNFCI) in Active operational state, a heartbeat message indicating that the peer VNFCI is in an Active operational state;
• sending, by the VNFCI, a heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state;
• constructing, by the VNFCI, a next state request message to the EMS, the next state request message including a parameter indicating a current operational state of the VNFCI and a parameter indicating a split-brain condition;
• starting, by the VNFCI, a response timer;
• when the VNFCI receives a next state response message from the EMS and a VNFCI response state of the VNFCI indicated by the next state response message is an Active operational state, sending, by the VNFCI, a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state and that the VNFCI has a desired operational state of Active;
• when the VNFCI receives the next state response message from the EMS and the VNFCI response state indicated by the next state response message is Standby, transitioning the VNFCI to a Deactivating state;
• when the response timer expires without receiving the next state response message from the EMS, and the VNFCI is not a preferred Standby instance, sending, by the VNFCI, the second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the VNFCI is in the Active operational state and that the VNFCI has the desired operational state of Active;
• and
• when the response timer expires without receiving the next state response message from the EMS, and the VNFCI is the preferred Standby instance, transitioning the VNFCI to the Deactivating state.