Patent Publication Number: US-2023135001-A1

Title: Systems and methods for validating a container network function for deployment

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/661,598, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALIDATING A CONTAINER NETWORK FUNCTION FOR DEPLOYMENT,” filed May 2, 2022 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,552,850), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/361,623, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VALIDATING A CONTAINER NETWORK FUNCTION FOR DEPLOYMENT,” filed Jun. 29, 2021 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,336,525), the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A container or cloud-native network function (CNF) is a software implementation of a network function, traditionally performed on a physical device (e.g., a router, a bridge, a switch, a gateway, a firewall, and/or the like), but created and deployed in a cloud computing environment. A CNF may provide various network functions packaged into docker containers (e.g., networking microservices) and may be deployed in private, public, or hybrid cloud infrastructures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  are diagrams of an example associated with validating a CNF for deployment. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a flowchart of an example process for validating a CNF for deployment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. 
     CNF deployment is a complex and time-consuming process. The deployment process is complex because the process involves multiple stakeholders at various levels (e.g., network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) (e.g., networking hardware and software needed to support and connect virtual network functions in carrier networks), Kubernetes, a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) (e.g., a component that standardizes functions of virtual networking to increase interoperability of software-defined networking elements), the package management applications, the configuration management systems, and/or the like). At every point in the deployment process there are chances of failure of deployment of the CNF, which results in lost time and money. Thus, current techniques for deploying a CNF consume computing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or the like), networking resources, and/or other resources associated with deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, creating a new CNF for the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     Some implementations described herein provide a validation system that validates a CNF for deployment. For example, the validation system may receive CNF data identifying a CNF to be deployed in a network and a configuration of the CNF and may validate connectivity between resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist. The validation system may validate packages to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist and may validate an NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVO data indicating whether one or more NFVO issues exist. The validation system may validate an NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVI data indicating whether one or more NFVI issues exist and may determine whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network based on the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data. The validation system may perform one or more actions based on determining whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network. 
     In this way, the validation system validates a CNF for deployment. For example, the validation system may check all prerequisite tasks for deploying a CNF and enable the CNF to be deployed more quickly. The validation system may perform various levels of validations associated with deploying the CNF and may generate a recommendation with respect to deploying the CNF. Thus, implementations described herein may conserve computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, creating a new CNF for the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
       FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  are diagrams of an example  100  associated with validating a CNF for deployment. As shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G , example  100  includes a user device  105  and a validation system  110 . Further details of the user device  105  and the validation system  110  are provided elsewhere herein. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 A , and by reference number  115 , the validation system  110  may receive, from the user device  105 , CNF data identifying a CNF to be deployed in a network and a configuration of the CNF. For example, a user of the user device  105  may wish to deploy a particular CNF (e.g., a virtual implementation of a router, a bridge, a switch, a gateway, a firewall, and/or the like) in the network and may select, via the user device  105 , the particular CNF from a marketplace of registered CNFs. The user of the user device  105  may also specify a configuration for the particular CNF. The configuration may include data identifying CNF docker images to be extracted and uploaded to a registry, Helm charts to be extracted and uploaded to the registry, parameter files and scripts to be extracted and uploaded to software for tracking changes in the CNF data, a cloud service archive (CSAR) package to be uploaded or retrieved from a vendor, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 B , and by reference number  120 , the validation system  110  may validate connectivity between resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist. For example, when validating the connectivity between the resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF, the validation system  110  may validate connectivity between the NFVO and container infrastructure service management (e.g., a system that provides mechanisms for lifecycle management of containers that host application components as services or functions) to generate first connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist between the NFVO and the container infrastructure service management. The validation system  110  may also validate connectivity between the network and the NFVO to generate second connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist between the network and the NFVO. 
     In some implementations, the connectivity data includes the first connectivity data and the second connectivity data. In some implementations, the one or more connectivity issues include a configuration management issue, a container infrastructure service management issue, a package manager issue, a repository issue, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 C , and by reference number  125 , the validation system  110  may validate packages (e.g., software packages) to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist. For example, when validating the packages to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network, the validation system  110  may validate the packages to generate first package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist with the packages. The validation system  110  may validate artifacts associated with the packages, to generate second package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist with the artifacts associated with the packages. 
     In some implementations, the package data includes the first package data and the second package data. In some implementations, the one or more package issues include a missing artifact issue associated with one of the packages, an issue with an image push to a local registry, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 D , and by reference number  130 , the validation system  110  may validate an NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVO data indicating whether one or more NFVO issues exist. For example, when validating the NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network, the validation system  110  may validate package cataloging by the NFVO to generate first NFVO data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the package cataloging by the NFVO. The validation system  110  may also validate functionality of the NFVO to generate second NFVO data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the functionality of the NFVO. The validation system  110  may validate resources discovery, associated with the NFVO, to generate third NFVO data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the resources discovery. 
     In some implementations, the NFVO data includes the first NFVO data, the second NFVO data, and the third NFVO data. In some implementations, the one or more NFVO issues include a data center discovery issue, an improper hierarchy issue, an unattached package issue, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 E , and by reference number  135 , the validation system  110  may validate an NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVI data indicating whether one or more NFVI issues exist. For example, when validating the NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network, the validation system  110  may validate a namespace (e.g., a set of names that are used to identify and refer to objects of various kinds), associated with the NFVI, to generate first NFVI data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the namespace associated with the NFVI. The validation system  110  may also validate a quota (e.g., limits on resource utilization), associated with the NFVI, to generate second NFVI data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the quota associated with the NFVI. The validation system  110  may validate a namespace label (e.g., a key/value pair that is attached to an object), associated with the NFVI, to generate third NFVI data indicating whether one or more issues exist with the namespace label. 
     In some implementations, the NFVI data includes the first NFVI data, the second NFVI data, and the third NFVI data. In some implementations, the one or more NFVI issues include a resource quota availability issue, a service account related issue, a missing label issue, an improperly configured role-based access control issue, and/or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 F , and by reference number  140 , the validation system  110  may determine whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network based on the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data. For example, the validation system  110  may determine whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network based on whether one or more connectivity issues exist in the connectivity data, whether one or more package issues exist in the package data, whether one or more NFVO issues exist in the NFVO data, and whether one or more NFVI issues exist in the NFVI data. In some implementations, if no issues are identified in the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data, the validation system  110  may determine that there are no issues associated with deploying the CNF in the network. In some implementations, if a criticality of issues are identified in the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data, and the criticality of issues satisfies a threshold criticality, the validation system  110  may determine that there are one or more issues associated with deploying the CNF in the network. If the criticality of issues fails to satisfy the threshold criticality, the validation system  110  may determine that there are no issues associated with deploying the CNF in the network. 
     In some implementations, the validation system  110  may determine the criticality of issues based on a criticality of connectivity issues in the connectivity data, a criticality of package issues in the package data, a criticality of NFVO issues in the NFVO data, and a criticality of NFVI issues in the NFVI data. Alternatively, or additionally, the validation system  110  may apply weights to the criticality of connectivity issues in the connectivity data, the criticality of package issues in the package data, the criticality of NFVO issues in the NFVO data, and the criticality of NFVI issues in the NFVI data, to generate weighted criticalities. The validation system  110  may determine the criticality of issues based on the weighted criticalities. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1 G , and by reference number  145 , the validation system  110  may perform one or more actions based on determining whether there are one or more issues. For example, the one or more actions may include the validation system  110  creating a report identifying the one or more issues and providing the report for display. For example, the validation system  110  may generate a report that includes an indication of whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network and descriptions of the one or more issues (e.g., if any). The validation system  110  may provide the report to the user device  105 , and the user device  105  may display the report to the user of the user device  105 . The user may decide whether to deploy the CNF in the network based on the report. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more actions include the validation system  110  generating a recommendation for deployment of the CNF based on the one or more issues and providing the recommendation for display. For example, the validation system  110  may generate a recommendation recommending deployment of the CNF in the network when a criticality of the one or more issues fails to satisfy a threshold criticality. The validation system  110  may generate another recommendation, recommending that the CNF not be deployed in the network, when the criticality of the one or more issues satisfies the threshold criticality. The validation system  110  may provide the recommendation to the user device  105 , and the user device  105  may display the recommendation to the user of the user device  105 . The user may decide whether to deploy the CNF in the network based on the recommendation. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more actions include the validation system  110  correcting the one or more issues to generate a corrected CNF package and causing the corrected CNF package to be implemented. For example, the validation system  110  may correct the one or more issues associated with deploying the CNF in the network. Correcting the issues may modify the CNF and may generate the corrected CNF package. The validation system  110  may cause the corrected CNF package to be implemented by instructing one or more other systems and/or the network to implement the corrected CNF package. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more actions include the validation system  110  generating a recommendation for correcting the one or more issues and providing the recommendation for display. For example, the validation system  110  may generate a recommendation that recommends corrections that eliminate the one or more issues associated with deploying the CNF in the network. The validation system  110  may provide the recommendation to the user device  105 , and the user device  105  may display the recommendation to the user of the user device  105 . The user may decide whether to implement the corrections that eliminate the one or more issues based on the recommendation. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, creating a new CNF for the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more actions include the validation system  110  causing the CNF to be deployed in the network in lieu of the one or more issues. For example, the validation system  110  may cause the CNF to be deployed in the network when a criticality of the one or more issues fails to satisfy a threshold criticality. The validation system  110  may cause the CNF to be deployed in the network by instructing one or more other systems and/or the network to deploy the CNF in the network. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In some implementations, the one or more actions include the validation system  110  receiving feedback associated with the one or more issues and updating the CNF based on the feedback. For example, the validation system  110  may provide data identifying the one or more issues to the user device  105 . The user device  105  may display the data identifying the one or more issues to the user of the user device  105 . The user may provide feedback on the one or more issues to the user device  105 , and the user device  105  may provide the feedback to the validation system  110 . The validation system  110  may update the CNF based on the feedback by utilizing the feedback to correct the one or more issues. In this way, the validation system  110  conserves computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, creating a new CNF for the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     In this way, the validation system  110  validates a CNF for deployment. For example, the validation system  110  may check all prerequisite tasks for deploying a CNF and enable the CNF to be deployed more quickly. The validation system  110  may perform various levels of validations associated with deploying the CNF and may generate a recommendation with respect to deploying the CNF. Thus, implementations described herein may conserve computing resources, networking resources, and other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by deploying an inoperable CNF, attempting to correct the inoperable CNF, handling customer complaints associated with the inoperable CNF, creating a new CNF for the inoperable CNF, and/or the like. 
     As indicated above,  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  are provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard to  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G . The number and arrangement of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewer devices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than those shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices shown in  FIGS.  1 A- 1 G . 
       FIG.  2    is a diagram of an example environment  200  in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As shown in  FIG.  2   , environment  200  may include the validation system  110 , which may include one or more elements of and/or may execute within a cloud computing system  202 . The cloud computing system  202  may include one or more elements  203 - 213 , as described in more detail below. As further shown in  FIG.  2   , environment  200  may include a network  220  and user device  105 . Devices and/or elements of environment  200  may interconnect via wired connections and/or wireless connections. 
     The user device  105  includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information, as described elsewhere herein. The user device  105  may include a communication device and/or a computing device. For example, the user device  105  may include a wireless communication device, a mobile phone, a user equipment, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a gaming console, a set-top box, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smart eyeglasses, a head mounted display, or a virtual reality headset), or a similar type of device. 
     The cloud computing system  202  includes computing hardware  203 , a resource management component  204 , a host operating system (OS)  205 , and/or one or more virtual computing systems  206 . The cloud computing system  202  may execute on, for example, an Amazon Web Services platform, a Microsoft Azure platform, or a Snowflake platform. The resource management component  204  may perform virtualization (e.g., abstraction) of computing hardware  203  to create the one or more virtual computing systems  206 . Using virtualization, the resource management component  204  enables a single computing device (e.g., a computer or a server) to operate like multiple computing devices, such as by creating multiple isolated virtual computing systems  206  from computing hardware  203  of the single computing device. In this way, computing hardware  203  can operate more efficiently, with lower power consumption, higher reliability, higher availability, higher utilization, greater flexibility, and lower cost than using separate computing devices. 
     Computing hardware  203  includes hardware and corresponding resources from one or more computing devices. For example, computing hardware  203  may include hardware from a single computing device (e.g., a single server) or from multiple computing devices (e.g., multiple servers), such as multiple computing devices in one or more data centers. As shown, computing hardware  203  may include one or more processors  207 , one or more memories  208 , one or more storage components  209 , and/or one or more networking components  210 . Examples of a processor, a memory, a storage component, and a networking component (e.g., a communication component) are described elsewhere herein. 
     The resource management component  204  includes a virtualization application (e.g., executing on hardware, such as computing hardware  203 ) capable of virtualizing computing hardware  203  to start, stop, and/or manage one or more virtual computing systems  206 . For example, the resource management component  204  may include a hypervisor (e.g., a bare-metal or Type 1 hypervisor, a hosted or Type 2 hypervisor, or another type of hypervisor) or a virtual machine monitor, such as when the virtual computing systems  206  are virtual machines  211 . Additionally, or alternatively, the resource management component  204  may include a container manager, such as when the virtual computing systems  206  are containers  212 . In some implementations, the resource management component  204  executes within and/or in coordination with a host operating system  205 . 
     A virtual computing system  206  includes a virtual environment that enables cloud-based execution of operations and/or processes described herein using computing hardware  203 . As shown, a virtual computing system  206  may include a virtual machine  211 , a container  212 , or a hybrid environment  213  that includes a virtual machine and a container, among other examples. A virtual computing system  206  may execute one or more applications using a file system that includes binary files, software libraries, and/or other resources required to execute applications on a guest operating system (e.g., within the virtual computing system  206 ) or the host operating system  205 . 
     Although the validation system  110  may include one or more elements  203 - 213  of the cloud computing system  202 , may execute within the cloud computing system  202 , and/or may be hosted within the cloud computing system  202 , in some implementations, the validation system  110  may not be cloud-based (e.g., may be implemented outside of a cloud computing system) or may be partially cloud-based. For example, the validation system  110  may include one or more devices that are not part of the cloud computing system  202 , such as device  300  of  FIG.  3   , which may include a standalone server or another type of computing device. The validation system  110  may perform one or more operations and/or processes described in more detail elsewhere herein. 
     Network  220  includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. For example, network  220  may include a cellular network, a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a private network, the Internet, a core network (e.g., a fifth generation (5G) core network, a fourth generation (4G) core network, and/or the like), an edge network (e.g., a network that brings computation and data storage closer to a location to improve response times and save bandwidth), a far edge network (e.g., a network of location-based devices, such as customer premise equipment), and/or a combination of these or other types of networks. The network  220  enables communication among the devices of environment  200 . 
     The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in  FIG.  2    are provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than those shown in  FIG.  2   . Furthermore, two or more devices shown in  FIG.  2    may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown in  FIG.  2    may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) of environment  200  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices of environment  200 . 
       FIG.  3    is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of  FIG.  2   . The one or more devices may include a device  300 , which may correspond to the user device  105  and/or the validation system  110 . In some implementations, the user device  105  and/or the validation system  110  may include one or more devices  300  and/or one or more components of the device  300 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the device  300  may include a bus  310 , a processor  320 , a memory  330 , a storage component  340 , an input component  350 , an output component  360 , and a communication component  370 . 
     The bus  310  includes a component that enables wired and/or wireless communication among the components of device  300 . The processor  320  includes a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, and/or another type of processing component. The processor  320  is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, the processor  320  includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform a function. The memory  330  includes a random-access memory, a read only memory, and/or another type of memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory). 
     The storage component  340  stores information and/or software related to the operation of device  300 . For example, the storage component  340  may include a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, a solid-state disk drive, a compact disc, a digital versatile disc, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium. The input component  350  enables device  300  to receive input, such as user input and/or sensed inputs. For example, the input component  350  may include a touch screen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor, a global positioning system component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or an actuator. The output component  360  enables device  300  to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or one or more light-emitting diodes. The communication component  370  enables the device  300  to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example, the communication component  370  may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card, and/or an antenna. 
     The device  300  may perform one or more processes described herein. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., the memory  330  and/or the storage component  340 ) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions, code, software code, and/or program code) for execution by the processor  320 . The processor  320  may execute the set of instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. In some implementations, execution of the set of instructions, by one or more processors  320 , causes the one or more processors  320  and/or the device  300  to perform one or more processes described herein. In some implementations, hardwired circuitry may be used instead of or in combination with the instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
     The number and arrangement of components shown in  FIG.  3    are provided as an example. The device  300  may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in  FIG.  3   . Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of the device  300  may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of the device  300 . 
       FIG.  4    is a flowchart of an example process  400  for validating a CNF for deployment. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG.  4    may be performed by a device (e.g., the validation system  110 ). In some implementations, one or more process blocks of  FIG.  4    may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the device, such as a user device (e.g., the user device  105 ). Additionally, or alternatively, one or more process blocks of  FIG.  4    may be performed by one or more components of the device  300 , such as the processor  320 , the memory  330 , the storage component  340 , the input component  350 , the output component  360 , and/or the communication component  370 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include receiving CNF data identifying a CNF to be deployed in a network and a configuration of the CNF (block  410 ). For example, the device may receive CNF data identifying a CNF to be deployed in a network and a configuration of the CNF, as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include validating connectivity between resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist (block  420 ). For example, the device may validate connectivity between resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate connectivity data indicating whether one or more connectivity issues exist, as described above. In some implementations, validating the connectivity between the resources to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate the connectivity data includes validating connectivity between the NFVO and container infrastructure service management to generate first connectivity data, and validating connectivity between the network and the NFVO to generate second connectivity data, wherein the connectivity data includes the first connectivity data and the second connectivity data. In some implementations, the one or more connectivity issues include one or more of a configuration management issue, a container infrastructure service management issue, a package manager issue, or a repository issue. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include validating packages to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist (block  430 ). For example, the device may validate packages to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate package data indicating whether one or more package issues exist, as described above. In some implementations, validating the packages to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate the package data includes validating the packages to generate first package data, and validating artifacts associated with the packages, to generate second package data, wherein the package data includes the first package data and the second package data. In some implementations, the one or more package issues include one or more of a missing artifact issue associated with one of the packages, or an issue with an image push to a local registry. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include validating an NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVO data indicating whether one or more NFVO issues exist (block  440 ). For example, the device may validate an NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVO data indicating whether one or more NFVO issues exist, as described above. In some implementations, validating the NFVO to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate the NFVO data includes validating package cataloging by the NFVO to generate first NFVO data, validating functionality of the NFVO to generate second NFVO data, and validating resources discovery, associated with the NFVO, to generate third NFVO data, wherein the NFVO data includes the first NFVO data, the second NFVO data, and the third NFVO data. In some implementations, the one or more NFVO issues include one or more of a data center discovery issue, an improper hierarchy issue, or an unattached package issue. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include validating an NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVI data indicating whether one or more NFVI issues exist (block  450 ). For example, the device may validate an NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate NFVI data indicating whether one or more NFVI issues exist, as described above. In some implementations, validating the NFVI to be utilized to deploy the CNF in the network to generate the NFVI data includes validating a namespace, associated with the NFVI, to generate first NFVI data, validating a quota, associated with the NFVI, to generate second NFVI data, and validating a namespace label, associated with the NFVI, to generate third NFVI data, wherein the NFVI data includes the first NFVI data, the second NFVI data, and the third NFVI data. In some implementations, the one or more NFVI issues include one or more of a resource quota availability issue, a service account related issue, a missing label issue, or an improperly configured role-based access control issue. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include determining whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network based on the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data (block  460 ). For example, the device may determine whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network based on the connectivity data, the package data, the NFVO data, and the NFVI data, as described above. 
     As further shown in  FIG.  4   , process  400  may include performing one or more actions based on determining whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network (block  470 ). For example, the device may perform one or more actions based on determining whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network, as described above. In some implementations, performing the one or more actions based on determining whether one or more issues are associated with deploying the CNF in the network includes creating a report identifying the one or more issues and providing the report for display; generating a recommendation for deployment of the CNF based on the one or more issues and providing the recommendation for display; generating a recommendation for correcting the one or more issues and providing the recommendation for display; correcting the one or more issues to generate a corrected CNF package and causing the corrected CNF package to be implemented; causing the CNF to be deployed in the network in lieu of the one or more issues; or receiving feedback associated with the one or more issues and updating the CNF based on the feedback. 
     Process  400  may include additional implementations, such as any single implementation or any combination of implementations described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. 
     Although  FIG.  4    shows example blocks of process  400 , in some implementations, process  400  may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in  FIG.  4   . Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocks of process  400  may be performed in parallel. 
     As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be used to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein. 
     As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, or the like. 
     To the extent the aforementioned implementations collect, store, or employ personal information of individuals, it should be understood that such information shall be used in accordance with all applicable laws concerning protection of personal information. Additionally, the collection, storage, and use of such information can be subject to consent of the individual to such activity, for example, through well known “opt-in” or “opt-out” processes as can be appropriate for the situation and type of information. Storage and use of personal information can be in an appropriately secure manner reflective of the type of information, for example, through various encryption and anonymization techniques for particularly sensitive information. 
     Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiple of the same item. 
     No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”). 
     In the preceding specification, various example embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.