Updating a distributed unit in a 5G virtual radio access network

One or more hardware-based non-transitory computer-readable memory devices storing computer-executable instructions which, upon execution by one or more processors disposed in a computer server, cause the computer server to update versions of a distributed unit (DU) in a virtual radio access network (vRAN) in a 5G (fifth generation) network, the updating comprising:

• instantiating a process scheduler on the computer server, the process scheduler operating to give priority to real-time processing threads executing on a processor of the computer server over non-real-time processing threads executing on the processor;
• hosting a first version of a distributed unit (DU) on the computer server, the first version of the DU being coupled via fronthaul to a radio unit (RU) supporting data traffic to and from a population of user equipment (UE);
• operating the first version of the DU to process the data traffic using real-time processing threads;
• operating a second version of the DU to perform initialization processes using non-real-time processing threads, in which the second version of the DU is enabled to process data traffic upon completion of the initialization processes;
• instantiating an update agent on the computer server, the update agent being configured for blocking the second version of the DU from executing real-time processing threads on the processor;
• receiving a signal at the update agent from the second version of the DU indicating that the initialization processes are complete;
• responsively to the signal, unblocking the second version of the DU from executing real-time processing threads so that the second version of the DU is operated to process the data traffic using real-time processing threads executing on the processor;
• and
• using the update agent to set the processing threads of the first version of the DU to non-real-time.

A computing device hosting a distributed unit (DU) operable in a virtual radio access network (vRAN) of a 5G (fifth generation) network, comprising:

• a physical network interface card (NIC) including an embedded layer 2 switch, the physical NIC operatively coupled to a fronthaul of the 5G network to process data packets associated with user equipment (UE) that is supported by the 5G network;
• a processor operatively coupled to the physical NIC;
• and
• memory storing computer-executable instructions which, upon execution by the processor, cause the computing device to:
• instantiate a first and a second version of the DU on the computing device, in which the second version of the DU is an update of the first version of the DU;
• implement a first and a second virtual NIC (vNIC) on the computing device that are respectively operatively coupled to the first and second versions of the DU, each of the vNICs sharing a common MAC (medium access control) address;
• operate the embedded layer 2 switch in the physical NIC to duplicate the data packets to each of the first and second vNICs, in which data packets are separately processable at each of the respective first and second versions of the DU using real-time processing threads;
• and
• control operations of the first and second versions of the DU to prevent simultaneous execution of real-time processing threads on the processor for the data packets.