Huawei Releases Autonomous Driving Data Center Network Solution White Paper

[Beijing, China, September 15, 2020] At the Open Data Center Summit 2020, Huawei took the lead in releasing the Huawei Autonomous Driving Data Center Network Solution White Paper, comprehensively describing the future vision, target architecture, autonomous driving network (ADN) levels, and use cases of data center networks (DCNs). This white paper provides valuable reference for enterprises looking to build next-generation DCNs and reaffirms Huawei's relentless efforts to jointly innovate and explore DCNs and promote industry development together with customers and partners.

The white paper first introduces challenges that arise during DCN development and summarizes four manual breakpoints in the O&M of DCNs throughout their lifecycle:

• Network language as the main orchestration mode

• Manual verification and hierarchical review of service correctness

• Passive response to faults, multi-tool assistance, and long time for manual recovery

• Experience-based manual inspection, and untimely network optimization

These manual breakpoints can be gradually eliminated with the rise of ADNs driven by the leapfrog development of key innovative technologies such as intent abstraction, digital twin, and artificial intelligence (AI). ADNs not only eliminate the need to manually carry out a number of repeated and complex operations, but also improve the prediction and prevention capabilities of networks based on massive amounts of data, making it possible to offer more differentiated network services.

The white paper also proposes levels L0 to L5 for ADN, with each level featuring different key capabilities. As described in this white paper, the overall autonomous driving DCN solution consists of three layers: network infrastructure, management and control system, and cloud-based training system. It covers the full DCN lifecycle including planning, construction, O&M, and optimization, enabling evolution towards unattended DCNs that feature self-service, self-maintenance, and self-optimization.

Zhang Lei, Vice President of Huawei's Data Center Network Domain, releases the Huawei Autonomous Driving Data Center Network Solution White Paper

"ADNs will be a long-term practice and evolution process. In addition to standards and technologies, the industry must continuously deepen the ADN evaluation system to drive automatic and intelligent network upgrade as well as inter-generation evolution," said Zhang Lei, Vice President of Huawei's Data Center Network Domain. "By releasing this white paper, we hope to join forces with customers and partners to promote the large-scale adoption of network AI technologies and advance DCNs into the autonomous driving era characterized by agile business, ultimate experience, and efficient O&M."