BL0-220 Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks Questions and Answers

The Core or Central Cloud covers a very large area, as it is the most centralized part of the Distributed Cloud architecture. It provides high-performance computing and storage resources for applications that do not require low latency or high bandwidth. It also hosts the management and orchestration functions for the entire Distributed Cloud network. The Core or Central Cloud is typically located in a data center or a cloud service provider’s facility12. References:

• Nokia Bell Labs 5G Professional Certification - Distributed Cloud Networks
• Nokia Bell Labs 5G Certification Program - Courses

The characteristics of traditional monolithic services are low scalability and fixed capacity. Monolithic services are applications that are built as a single unit, where all the components are tightly coupled and run in the same process. This makes them hard to scale, as they require more resources and coordination to handle increased demand. Monolithic services also have fixed capacity, as they are designed for a specific workload and cannot adapt to changing requirements or traffic patterns. Monolithic services are often slow to deploy, as they require updating the entire application for any change or improvement. References: [Cloud Native applications design], [Microservices and Containerization]

Latency, Privacy and Capacity are the three key drivers required for video-based service in on-premise cloud. Latency refers to the delay between the source and the destination of a video stream, which affects the quality of experience for the end-users. Privacy refers to the protection of the video content and the user data from unauthorized access or leakage. Capacity refers to the ability of the network and the cloud to handle the high bandwidth and storage demands of video applications. On-premise cloud is a cloud deployment model where the cloud infrastructure is located within the enterprise premises, and is managed by the enterprise or a third-party service provider. On-premise cloud can offer lower latency, higher privacy and greater capacity for video-based service than public cloud, which is located outside the enterprise premises and is shared by multiple tenants. References: Nokia Bell Labs 5G Professional Certification - Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 2: Cloud Technologies and Features, Section 2.3: Cloud Deployment Models.

On-premise Edge Cloud and Metro Edge Cloud are the cloud deployments that provide the lowest latency. Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the destination1. On-premise Edge Cloud is a cloud deployment that is located within the premises of the end-user, such as a factory, a hospital, or a campus2. Metro Edge Cloud is a cloud deployment that is located within the same metropolitan area as the end-user, such as a city or a suburb3. Both On-premise Edge Cloud and Metro Edge Cloud reduce the distance and the number of hops that data has to travel, resulting in lower latency and higher performance4. Far Edge Cloud and Central Cloud are not the cloud deployments that provide the lowest latency. Far Edge Cloud is a cloud deployment that is located at the edge of the operator’s network, such as a regional data center or a base station3. Central Cloud is a cloud deployment that is located at the core of the operator’s network, such as a national data center or a cloud provider3. Both Far Edge Cloud and Central Cloud increase the distance and the number of hops that data has to travel, resulting in higher latency and lower performance4.

References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, slide 3 2: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, slide 14 3: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, slide 15 4: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, slide 16

The available options to interconnect private Datacenters are VPN and Backbone. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which is a secure and encrypted connection between two or more networks over the public internet. Backbone is a high-capacity network that connects different data centers across regions or countries. Both VPN and Backbone provide reliable, scalable, and secure data center interconnect (DCI) solutions for private/hybrid clouds. References: Nokia Cloud DCI offers a more scalable, reliable and secure way to connect data centers in private/hybrid clouds, Nokia business-critical cloud DCI solutions support multiple DCI applications, from real-time business continuity and disaster recovery, to synchronous data replication and cloud backup, Nokia partners with IP Telecom to deliver quantum-safe data center connectivity

The statement that best describes cloud native operations is cloud native provides operation adaptability. Cloud native operations are based on the principles of agility, resilience, and automation, which enable the cloud to adapt to changing demands and conditions12. Cloud native is not only operational by AI, nor does it rely only on network automation. AI and automation are tools that enhance the cloud native operations, but they are not the only factors that define them12. Cloud native design does not limit scalability, but rather enables it by using microservices, containers, and orchestration12. References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 4: Operating Your Cloud, slide 6 2: Nokia Bell Labs 5G Certification Program - Blended Learning, Section 2: Distributed Cloud Networks, slide 16

 The 5G Core control plane is responsible for managing the network functions, services, and resources, such as authentication, authorization, session management, policy control, mobility management, etc.1. The 5G Core control plane can be deployed in a distributed cloud architecture, which consists of different cloud layers that have different characteristics and roles2. The Metro Edge Cloud is a cloud layer that is located near the access network, and provides low latency, high bandwidth, and local processing for the control plane functions3. The Core/Central Cloud is a cloud layer that is located in the core network, and provides high availability, scalability, and security for the control plane functions4. The distributed cloud architecture enables the 5G Core control plane to optimize the network performance, efficiency, and flexibility, and to support various use cases and applications. References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, Section 1.2: Cloud Architecture 2: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, Section 1.3: Distributed Cloud 3: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 3: Cloud Resource Planning, Section 3.2: Cloud Resource Planning for Distributed Cloud 4: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 3: Cloud Resource Planning, Section 3.3: Cloud Resource Planning for Central Cloud : Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 5: New Services Automation, Section 5.1: Distributed Cloud Services Automation

 OCP stands for Open Compute Project, which is an initiative to design and enable the delivery of the most efficient server, storage and data center hardware designs for scalable computing1. OCP is the primary cloud infrastructure platform to develop, test and deliver Nokia’s core network applications and business applications, benefiting from its scalability, flexibility, and advanced orchestration capabilities2. OCP is also part of the Nokia Cloud Platform, which is a TCO optimized solution that combines OCP with Nokia’s reference hardware andblueprint architecture2. References: 1: Open Compute Project, Home Page 2: Nokia Cloud Platform,

Security as a Service and Software as a Service are two examples of SaaS in a cloud deployment. Security as a Service is a model where security services such as firewall, antivirus, encryption, etc. are delivered over the Internet by a cloud provider1. Software as a Service is a model where software applications such as email, CRM, ERP, etc. are hosted and managed by a cloud provider and accessed by users over the Internet2. Stack as a Service and Service as a Service are not valid terms for SaaS in a cloud deployment. Stack as a Service is a typo for Stack Overflow, a popular online platform for developers3. Service as a Service is a redundant and meaningless term that does not describe any cloud service model4. References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, Section 1.3: Cloud Service Models 2: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, Section 1.3: Cloud Service Models 3: Stack Overflow 4: What is Service as a Service (SaaS)?

SaaS within cloud computing primarily stands for Software as a Service, which delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis. It allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps over the Internet, such as email, calendaring, and office tools (like Microsoft Office 365). Security as a Service (SECaaS) is an outsourcing model for security management. Typically, businesses utilize this service for functions like anti-virus software, intrusion detection,and authentication. SECaaS is also considered a type of SaaS where security services are delivered remotely via the internet. Therefore, both Software as a Service and Security as a Service are correct answers, emphasizing the diversity of services provided through the SaaS model beyond just software applications.

Multi-tenancy network connectivity provides dedicated resources through network slicing. Network slicing is a technique that allows operators to create multiple logical networks over a shared physical infrastructure. Each network slice can have its own characteristics, such as bandwidth, latency, security, and quality of service, to meet the specific requirements of different applications and customers. Network slicing enables operators to offer customized and differentiated services to various tenants, such as enterprises, industries, and public sector organizations, while optimizing the utilization of network resources. Network slicing is one of the key features of 5G networks, as it supports the diverse and dynamic use cases of 5G, such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications. References: Nokia Bell Labs 5G Professional Certification - Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 4: Operating Your Cloud, Section 4.2: Network Slicing.

A Network Service Descriptor (NSD) is a template that defines the characteristics and requirements of a network service, such as the number and type of virtual network functions (VNFs), the connectivity and topology between them, the scaling policies, and the service level agreements1. A NSD is defined in a catalog that is managed by the cloud orchestration layer, which is responsible for deploying, monitoring, and controlling the network services across the distributed cloud2. Therefore, cloud orchestration requires a NSD defined in a catalog, while the other options do not. References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 3: Cloud Resource Planning, Topic: Network Service Descriptor Role 2: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 4: Operating Your Cloud, Topic: Cloud Orchestration

A Network Service Descriptor (NSD) is an integral part of network function virtualization (NFV) architecture. It describes the composition of network services, including how different network functions are chained or combined to provide a specific service. Cloud orchestration involves the automated management of various cloud computing services and resources, including networking services. It requires a comprehensive description of these services (i.e., NSD) to automate their deployment, scaling, and management effectively. NSD in a catalog would be used to define the parameters and configurations needed for the orchestrated service to be deployed in a cloud environment, making cloud orchestration the most likely context for requiring an NSD.

The properties related to a public cloud are for users, there is no cloud infrastructure operation and easy scaling. A public cloud is a cloud service that is offered by a third-party provider over the public internet, and is available to anyone who wants to use or purchase it1. Users of public cloud do not need to operate or maintain the cloud infrastructure, as it is the responsibility of the cloud provider2. Public cloud also offers easy scaling, as users can quickly and dynamically provision or release resources according to their needs2. Public cloud is suitable for applications that have unpredictable or variable demand, or that do not require a high level of security or customization3. References: 1: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 1: Cloud Ecosystem, Section 1.1: Cloud Types 2: Nokia Bell Labs Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 2: Cloud Technologies and Features, Section 2.1: Cloud Computing 3: Nokia and DISH to deploy first 5G standalone core network in the public cloud with AWS, Press Release

The technology layer function supports automated service delivery by providing the necessary tools and mechanisms to orchestrate, monitor, and optimize the cloud resources and services. The technology layer function consists of four sub-functions: cloud management, cloud orchestration, cloud automation, and cloud analytics. These sub-functions work together to enable the efficient and flexible operation of the cloud ecosystem.

References:

• Nokia Bell Labs 5G Professional Certification - Distributed Cloud Networks | Nokia Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 2: Cloud Technologies and Features, slide 11
• Nokia Bell Labs 5G Certification Program - Courses | Nokia, Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 2: Cloud Technologies and Features

Closed loop automation Comprehensive Explanation and References of Correct Answer: AI/ML based operation requires pre-defined policies, open APIs, and closed loop automation to enable intelligent and adaptive cloud management and orchestration. Pre-defined policies provide the rules and objectives for the cloud resources and services, such as performance, security, and cost. Open APIs allow the communication and integration of different cloud components and platforms, such as Nokia’s 5G Edge Slicing solution and Microsoft Azure edge and cloud. Closed loop automation enables the continuous monitoring, analysis, and optimization of the cloud ecosystem based on the feedback from the AI/ML algorithms.

References:

• Nokia Bell Labs 5G Professional Certification - Distributed Cloud Networks | Nokia Distributed Cloud Networks, Unit 4: Operating Your Cloud, slide 7
• Nokia, A1 and Microsoft deploy industry’s first 5G edge cloud network slicing solution for enterprises | Nokia, paragraph 4

Cloud resources are made available to customers as virtualized resources. Virtualization is the process of creating a software-based representation of a physical resource, such as a server, a storage device, or a network device. Virtualization allows multiple customers to share the same physical resource, while isolating their data and applications from each other. Virtualization also enables customers to access cloud resources on demand, without having to worry about the underlying hardware or infrastructure. Virtualization is one of the key technologies that enable cloud computing and its benefits. References: Nokia Cloud Platform, Module by Module - Self Study Note Guide