Application Developers Look to Take Advantage of Mobile Edge Computing Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is being embraced by service providers and standards organizations as a new and innovative way to deliver content and services to mobile subscribers. Typically subscriber applications are deployed in the service provider’s data center or as Internet applications. MEC changes this model to allow applications to run on general purpose processor (GPP) based servers at the network edge, close to the evolved NodeB (eNB).

Running applications at the edge of the wireless network significantly reduces application response times, and delivers better user’s Quality of Experience (QoE) to the mobile subscriber. In parallel, it lowers both the volume and the peak traffic levels on the backhaul links, which allows service providers to add additional RF and baseband resources to meet the growing demand for mobile data without upgrading their backhaul links. It also allows new services innovation, for example location-aware applications. Service providers expect these distinguishing services to increase revenue and reduce subscriber churn in both consumer and enterprise markets.

MEC also represents a new revenue opportunity for application developers to deliver solutions to the growing mobile marketplace. The deployment of GPP computing platforms at the network edge enables application developers to leverage their existing software engineering investment and expertise. Implementing applications at the network edge allows application developers to build new and innovative contextualized services that use location services, adapt to local conditions, and are tailored to individual needs and preferences.

Accelerating the Delivery of Network Edge SolutionsIntel® Network Edge Virtualization Software Development Kit (NEV SDK) is designed to assist application developers in taking advantage of the opportunity enabled by MEC. By providing a comprehensive suite of reference libraries and APIs, the NEV SDK removed the need for application developers to understand the complexity and implementation attributes of the underlying mobile network protocols.

Implementing applications at the network edge allows

application developers to build new and innovative

contextualized services that use location services, adapt to local conditions, and are tailored to individual needs

and preferences.

Intel® network edge VIrtualIzatIon (neV) Software deVelopment kIt

Product BriefIntel® Network Edge Virtualization

2

Intel® Network Edge Virtualization

Intel® NEV SDK Release 2 expands the earlier proof-of-concept platform and provides a full featured solution, which enables application developers to accelerate the porting of their applications to run at the edge of a mobile network. It includes the Intel® MEC reference libraries, components of the Wind River® Titanium Server Virtual Network Functions (NFV) and virtualization platform, and Intel® application development tools.

The NEV SDK runs on the Intel® Xeon® general purpose multi-core processor. This permits a scalable solution for different cellular network deployment scenarios including small cells, aggregation sites, macro cells, and Cloud radio access network (C-RAN).

In conjunction with the NEV SDK, application developers can use the LTE EPC and LTE eNB Emulators from Polaris Networks. These emulators are installed

on PCs and provide an end-to-end simulation of the S1 interface. This allows application developers to validate their software works in a variety of network topologies without the need to invest in wireless network equipment.

2

Figure 2. Porting applications using the Intel® Network Edge Virtualization (NEV) SDK

Figure 1. Mobile-Edge Computing enables innovation at the network edge

Network Edge Services (NES)

OpenStackAccelerated

vSwtich(AVS)

Network Information

Services (NIS)

Network Traffic Services

(NTS)

VMNES API

Apps

VMNES API

Apps

Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)

LTE eNB Emulator

S1 Interface

Mobile Edge Computing(MEC)

Intel® Xeon® based Platform LTE EPC Emulator

Open Virtualization Profile (OVP)

MEC Application

Intel® NEV SDK

Intel® NEV SDK1

Legend

Wind River2

evolved NodeB(eNB)

S1 Interface

Mobile Edge Computing(MEC)

Intel® General Purpose Platform (EPC)

Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Internet Data center

1 The NEV SDK Release 2 does not include NIS and NES APIs. These features are planned for a future NEV SDK release.2 Available 2H 2015. This SDK may be ordered through Intel distributors.3 Wind River Software, Intel® System Studio 2015 are provided with a 90-days license.4 Polaris Networks software is provided with a 90-days license.

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Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked “reserved” or “undefined.” Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising from future changes to them. The information here is subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a design with this information.

The products described in this document may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request. Contact your local Intel sales office or your distributor to obtain the latest specifications and before placing your product order. Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling 1-800-548-4725, or go to: http://www.intel.com/design/literature.htm

Copyright © 2015 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Printed in USA 0815/CC/ICMCSW/PDF Please Recycle 332967-001US

How to Request the Intel® Network Edge Virtualization SDKVisit https://networkbuilders.intel.com/intel-technologies/nev or contact your Intel representative to order your NEV SDK and request a 90-day NEV SDK license.2 The NEV SDK license provides access to Intel® System Studio 2015, and the Wind River® OVP.3 Procedures on how to obtain a Polaris Networks license and download the Polaris Networks LTE EPC and LTE eNB emulators are described in the NEV SDK user guide.4

Go to http://www.polarisnetworks.net to apply for a license and download the Polaris Networks LTE EPC and LTE eNB emulators.

Intel® Network Edge Virtualization

MODULE DESCRIPTION

MEC reference libraries

Network Traffic Services (NTS)

Network Edge Services (NES) Responsible for interfacing with the VM, and service registry.

Network Information Services (NIS)1 Extracts and stores radio network information, and provides it to the upper layer applications via the NES.

Processes the packets between the eNB and the EPC over the S1 interface. Including IP identification, routing, and GTP decapsulation and encapsulation. This shields the application layer from the lower transport layer 4G protocols used to transfer data on the S1 interface.

NES API1 Interfaces with the MEC applications to provide services.

Provides communications between applications running on different Virtual Machines (VMs) and significantly increases packet throughput.

An embedded virtualization solution that combines a real-time open source kernel with a proven Wind River carrier-grade Linux distribution. This integrated platform delivers a lower cost solution that is capable of supporting the high throughput, low latency, and deterministic requirements for 4G networks traffic.

Accelerated Virtual Switch (AVS)

Open Virtualization Profile (OVP)

Removes the need for the application developer to set up the virtualization environment.

A set of libraries and drivers that optimizes packet processing on Intel® Architecture (IA).

OpenStack virtualization management

Open source

Tools that enable the developer to accelerate product development, optimize performance, and debug code.

Intel® System Studio 2015Also available in 90-days license.

Wind River® Titanium Server components

Wind River® OpenStack

Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)

Intel® application development tools

NEV SDK

Table 1. Intel® NEV SDK components