EMS assisted fault handling 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 a standby state, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a peer VNFCI, a heartbeat failure notification message;
• sending, by the VNFCI, a next state request message to the EMS;
• retrieving, by the EMS, a peer VNFCI state when the next state request message is received;
• sending, by the EMS, a next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Active with active state when one or more of:
• a peer VNFCI admin state is not online, and
• a peer VNFCI is not reachable when the peer VNFCI admin state is online;
• sending, by the EMS, a next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Standby when the peer VNFCI state is active;
• and
• sending, by the EMS, the next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Standby when a request of current issues on resources associated with the VNFCI identifies critical issues at the EMS.

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

• receiving, at virtual network function component instances (VNFCI) in a standby state, a heartbeat failure notification message from a peer VNFCI;
• sending, by the VNFCI, a next state request message to an element management system (EMS) controlling a fault handling process for the VNFCI;
• retrieving, by the EMS, a peer VNFCI state when the next state request message is received;
• sending, by the EMS, a next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Active with active state when one or more of:
• a peer VNFCI admin state is not online, and
• a peer VNFCI is not reachable when the peer VNFCI admin state is online;
• sending, by the EMS, a next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Standby when the peer VNFCI state is active;
• and
• sending, by the EMS, the next state response message to the VNFCI specifying a next state of Standby when a request of current issues on resources associated with the VNFCI identifies critical issues at the EMS.