G.2.1 Introduction

This clause describes an SCP deployment based on a distributed model in which SCP endpoints are co-located with 5GC functionality (e.g. an NF, an NF Service, a subset thereof such as a microservice implementing part of an NF/NF service or a superset thereof such as a group of NFs, NF Services or microservices). This example makes no assumptions as to the internal composition of each 5GC functionality (e.g. whether they are internally composed of multiple elements or whether such internal elements communicate with means other than the service mesh depicted in this example).

In this deployment example, Service Agent(s) implementing necessary peripheral tasks (e.g. an SCP endpoint) are co-located with 5GC functionality, as depicted in Figure G.2.1-1. In this example, Service Agents and 5GC functionality, although co-located, are separate components.

In this deployment example, an SCP Service Agent, i.e. a service communication proxy, is co-located in the same deployment unit with 5GC functionality and provides each deployed unit (e.g. a container-based VNFC) with indirect communication and delegated discovery.

Figure G.2.1-2 shows an overview of this deployment scenario. For SBI-based interactions with other 5GC functionalities, a consumer (5GC functionality A) communicates through its Service Agent via SBI. Its Service Agent selects a target producer based on the request and routes the request to the producer's (5GC functionality B) Service Agent. What routing and selection policies a Service Agent applies for a given request is determined by routing and selection policies pushed by the service mesh controller. Information required by the service mesh controller is pushed by the Service Agents to the service mesh controller.

In this deployment, the SCP manages registration and discovery for communication within the service mesh and it interacts with an external NRF for service exposure and communication across service mesh boundaries. Operator-defined policies are additionally employed to generate the routing and selection policies to be used by the Service Agents.

This example depicts only SBI-based communication via a service mesh, but it does not preclude the simultaneous use of the service mesh for protocols other than SBI supported by the service mesh or that the depicted 5GC functionality additionally communicates via other means.

From a 3GPP perspective, in this deployment example a deployment unit thus contains NF functionality and SCP functionality. Figure G.2.1-3 depicts the boundary between both 3GPP entities. In the depicted example, two NF Services part of the same NF and each exposing an SBI interface are deployed each in a container-based VNFC. A co-located Service Agent provides each NF Service with indirect communication and delegated discovery.