operations/slice.rst

..
   SPDX-FileCopyrightText: © 2020 Open Networking Foundation <support@opennetworking.org>
   SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

Slice Management
================

A **Slice** is a unit of network access for a set of UEs with a defined set of
QOS parameters. The following properties are important to the definition of a slice:

* an **Enterprise** and **Site**

    Slices always exist within a site and an individual slice never spans more than one site.

* one or more **Filter** (Application)

    See :ref:`application` for more information on application filtering.

* one or more **DeviceGroup**

    See :ref:`subscriber_device_management` for more information on DeviceGroups.

* a User Plane Function (**UPF**)

    UPFs are provisioned by Aether Operations.

* **SD** (slice differentiator) and  **SST** (slice/service type)

    These are assigned by Aether Operations.

* **Default Behavior** (for Application Filtering)

   The default behavior is used when no application filtering rules match.

* **Uplink** and **Downlink** maximum bitrate (data rate in bps)

   Slice MBRs are the aggregate
   of all traffic within the slice and may represent the traffic of multiple devices.
   For more information, see :ref:`metering`.

Provisioning a new Slice
------------------------

.. note::
    This section refers to a fully installed ROC GUI, properly secured and with Enterprises, Connectivity Services
    Applications, and Sites already configured by a ROC Administrator. The examples shown below are taken from an example
    configuration shipped with the ROC - the "MEGA Patch" (see :ref:`posting-the-mega-patch`)

This procedure assumes you have already set up one or more DeviceGroups, containing
configuration for a number of UEs. Follow the procedure in :ref:`configure_device_group`
to configure DeviceGroups.

To add a new Slice, click the **Add** button in the Slice List View.

|Slice-LIST|

In the resulting Slice edit page:

#. Enter a Slice ID (this must be unique across the whole system).
#. Enter a Display Name (optional).
#. Enter a Description (optional).
#. Choose an Enterprise (may already have been selected)
#. Choose a Site
#. Choose a template

    * this will copy over values from that template, which may be edited individually at this create stage
    * they will not be editable afterwards.
#. Accept the Default Behavior, SD and SST or change them.
#. Accept the Maximum Bitrate (MBR) Uplink and Downlink values or change them.
#. Choose a *UPF* from the drop down list.

    * UPFs will previously have been added to a pool - those remaining unused will appear for selection.

|SLICE-ADD|

One or more Filters (Applications) and/or DeviceGroups can be associated with the Slice at this
stage or later, by clicking on the *+* icon.

When chosen, they appear as a list in the Slice edit page, and are automatically enabled/allowed:

|SLICE-EDIT-APP-DG|

Click on the "Update" to add these changes to the *Basket*.

Click the **Commit** in the *Basket View* to commit the changes. See :ref:`committing`.

Editing an existing Slice
-------------------------
When editing an existing Slice, it will not be possible to change:

* The **id**.
* The **template** or the *SD* or *SST* parameters beneath it.

Existing *Filters* or *DeviceGroups* can be removed by clicking the *trash can* icon next to it.

Alternatively existing *Filters* or *DeviceGroups* can be *disabled/disallowed* by clicking the slider
next to it. This will have the same effect as disabling it.

.. note:: The *DeviceGroup* or *Filter* and *UPF* here are *references*. If the underlying object is modified, then
    the changes on the Slice will take effect whenever changes to those objects are committed.

Removing a Slice
----------------
Removing a Slice can be achieved by clicking the *trash can* icon next to the Slice in the
Slice List page

|SLICE-LIST|

.. |SLICE-ADD| image:: images/aether-roc-gui-slice-add.png
    :width: 500
    :alt: Slice Edit page adding a new Slice

.. |SLICE-EDIT-APP-DG| image:: images/aether-roc-gui-slice-edit-showing-app-dg.png
    :width: 300
    :alt: Slice Edit showing Application and Device Group choice lists

.. |SLICE-LIST| image:: images/aether-roc-gui-slice-list.png
    :width: 920
    :alt: Slice List View in Aether ROC GUI