Service Instance Overview

A service instance is a detailed description about a service. Typically written in the JSON or YAML format, a service instance defines the elements of a service. For example, an L3VPN service instance defines elements such as the customer name, service topology, and the sites where the L3VPN service is to be deployed. You create service instances for onboarding devices, adding network resource pools, and defining network services based on the corresponding service designs that Paragon Automation provides.

A service order is an instruction to provision a service instance in the network. Paragon Automation generates a service order when you create or modify a service instance and publish the service instance. A service order is also generated for deleting or deprovisioning a service instance. A service instance can have many service orders associated with it.

When you save a service instance, the service is uploaded to the Paragon Automation database and the status of the service instance is Uploaded. To provision the service instance in the network, you must publish the service instance. After you publish the service instance, Paragon Automation generates the service order and activates the automated workflow associated with the service order to provision and monitor the service. The workflow includes a series of tasks such as transforming the service order, committing device configuration, and so on, for provisioning the service.

The Service Instances page (Orchestration > Service > Service Instance) lists all the service instances created in an organization.