VNF instantiation method and apparatus

A virtualized network function (VNF) instantiation method, comprising:

• sending, by an operations support system/business support system (OSS/BSS), virtualized network function description information (VNFD) to a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO);
• receiving, by the NFVO, the VNFD from the OSS/BSS, wherein the VNFD is for instantiating a VNF, the VNFD comprises first indication information and resource requirement information of a first internal network, and the first indication information indicates that the resource requirement information of the first internal network is externally visible;
• sending, by the NFVO, an external network instantiation request to a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM);
• receiving, by the VIM, the external network instantiation request;
• instantiating, by the VIM using the external network instantiation request and based on the resource requirement information of the first internal network, an external network connected to the VNF;
• sending, by the NFVO, a VNF instantiation request to a virtualized network function manager (VNFM);
• receiving, by the VNFM, the VNF instantiation request;
• and
• instantiating, by the VNFM using the VNF instantiation request and based on the VNFD, the VNF.

A communications system, comprising an operations support system/business support system (OSS/BSS), a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO), a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), and a virtualized network function manager (VNFM);

• wherein the OSS/BSS is configured to:
• send virtualized network function description information (VNFD) to the NFVO;
• wherein the NFVO is configured to:
• receive the VNFD from the OSS/BSS, wherein the VNFD is for instantiating a virtualized network function (VNF), the VNFD comprises first indication information and resource requirement information of a first internal network, and the first indication information indicates that the resource requirement information of the first internal network is externally visible;
• send an external network instantiation request to the VIM;
• and
• send a VNF instantiation request to the VNFM;
• wherein the VIM is configured to:
• receive the external network instantiation request;
• and
• instantiate, using the external network instantiation request and based on the resource requirement information of the first internal network, an external network connected to the VNF;
• and
• wherein the VNFM is configured to:
• receive the VNF instantiation request;
• and
• instantiate, using the VNF instantiation request and based on the VNFD, the VNF.