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Validation Framework
Two xHaul network deployment scenarios are under consideration, standalone 5G Fronthaul network infrastructure and a joint deployment of the traditional L3VPN 4G MBH and 5G xHaul running on top of the same physical network infrastructure.
While operators are rolling out new 5G networks, you need to maintain an existing 4G infrastructure for an extended period. The same physical infrastructure must serve the purposes of L3MBH and 5G networks. The same 5G CSR must allow simultaneous connectivity to the 5G gNB and 4G eNB cell towers providing L2 fronthaul and L3 MBH services. The lab topology aligns with the co-located O-DU and O-CU split 7.2x from the cell site, however the architecture allows for any functional split with flexible insertion points across the midhaul/backhaul portion of the network.
Topology involves Seamless MPLS with BGP-LU at border nodes and IS-IS SR underlay across multiple domains. Service overlay includes EVPN, L3VPN, VPLS, L2VPN, and L2Circuit. The end-to-end CoS model that this JVD uses might be extended or evolved to support architectures and use cases beyond what this document proposes.
Test Bed
Figure 2 explains connectivity for building the physical 5G fronthaul CoS LLQ JVD infrastructure. The fronthaul segment leverages a spine-and-leaf topology, enabling connections between access nodes supporting cell site router (CSR) functionality to pre-aggregation nodes supporting hub site router (HSR) functions. The access segment leverages 100GbE speeds for the proposed topology, supporting up to 400GbE port speeds. CSR aggregates O-RU traffic supporting 5G, including legacy 4G workloads. The selected access nodes for the CSR role include the ACX7024 (AN4) and ACX7100-48L (AN1, AN3) platforms. HSR aggregates traffic from multiple CSRs, including additional emulated access segments and supports connectivity into the O-DU and O-CU relative to the functional split model. The selected aggregation nodes for the HSR role include the ACX7509 (AG1.1) and the ACX7100-32C (AG1.2). Additional helper nodes build out the aggregation and core segments with the MX204 (AG2), MX480 (AG3), and PTX10001-36MR (CR1, CR2) devices. Finally, the MX304 platform supports the Services Aggregation Gateway (SAG) role.
Platforms and Devices Under Test (DUT)
The MEF 3.0 certified ACX7024 and ACX7100-48L access nodes are selected as CSRs, providing connectivity between O-RU and HSR.
- ACX7024 is an environmentally rated (I-temp), high-performance platform that delivers 360Gbps throughput in a 1-U form factor. ACX7024 offers 24 x 1GbE/10GbE/25GbE ports and 4 x 100GbE ports.
- ACX7100-48L is a compact high-density 1-U 4.8Tbps platform supporting a range of port densities, including 47 ports of 10GbE/25GbE/50GbE + 1x10/25G and 6 x 400G (24x100G).
The MEF 3.0 certified ACX7509 and ACX7100-32C platforms are selected as HSRs, providing CSR and O-DU connectivity, including pre-aggregation for midhaul and backhaul network segments.
- The ACX7509 is a HA, modular 5-U 4.8Tbps platform supporting 8 slots with three FPC variants: 20-port 1GbE/10GbE/25GbE/50GbE; 4-port 200GbE/400GbE; and 16-port 40GbE/100GbE.
- The ACX7100-32C is a high-capacity, secure 1-U 4.8Tbps platform supporting 32 ports of 40GbE/100GbE and 4 ports of 400GbE.
Junos OS Release 23.4R2 and Junos OS Evolved Release 23.4R2-EVO are applicable to all devices, where applicable.
| Topology Definitions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbreviation | Platform | Role | Junos OS Release |
| AN1 | ACX7100-48L | Access Node CSR | 23.4R2-EVO |
| AN3 | ACX7100-48L | Access Node CSR | 23.4R2-EVO |
| AN4 | ACX7024 | Access Node CSR (DUT) | 23.4R2-EVO |
| AG1.1 | ACX7509 | Pre-Aggregation HSR (DUT) | 23.4R2-EVO |
| AG1.2 | ACX7100-32C | Pre-Aggregation HSR (DUT) | 23.4R2-EVO |
| AG2.1 | MX204 | Aggregation Node | 23.4R2 |
| AG2.2 | MX204 | Aggregation Node | 23.4R2 |
| AG3.1 | MX480 | Aggregation Node | 23.4R2 |
| AG3.2 | MX480 | Aggregation Node | 23.4R2 |
| CR1 | PTX10001-36MR | Core Router | 23.4R2-EVO |
| CR2 | PTX10001-36MR | Core Router | 23.4R2-EVO |
| SAG | MX304 | Services Aggregation Router | 23.4R2 |
