Re: [Teas-ns-dt] Comment to definitions draft in today's call -- logical vs abstract vs virtual

[Eric Gray <[e-mail]>]

Jie,

              While I mostly agree, we need to be careful in associating “abstraction” with the NBI.  “Abstraction” is a fundamental characteristic of interfaces in general – e.g. – “physical” Ethernet ports and IP interfaces are abstractions we use to avoid talking about the material, optical and electrical components of which they are composed.

              I think that at least one part of what I think your point is, is that “abstract” refers to a (possibly restricted) view of a thing – as opposed to “logical” and “virtual” which  are a bit more tangible, even if not necessarily real.

--
Eric

From: Teas-ns-dt <[e-mail]> On Behalf Of Dongjie (Jimmy)
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2020 9:12 PM
To: Jeff Tantsura <[e-mail]>om>; Eric Gray <eric.gray=[e-mail]>
Cc: LUIS MIGUEL CONTRERAS MURILLO <[e-mail]>om>; Belotti, Sergio (Nokia - IT/Vimercate) <[e-mail]>om>; [e-mail]
Subject: Re: [Teas-ns-dt] Comment to definitions draft in today's call -- logical vs abstract vs virtual

Hi all,

As mentioned on the conference call, my preference of the terms would be virtual >= logical > abstract.

IMO all of these terms refer to something not totally physical or “real”. Actually this is what is expected from network slicing, multiple network slices are built on a shared physical network infrastructure, and each network slice is provided with a subset of the characteristics of the underlying network.

To me virtual and logical can be seen as similar terms and sometimes interchangeable. Virtual has been used widely in IETF and industry, which makes it easier for people to associate “virtual” with specific implementations, although it can be a technology-agnostic term. Logical can be considered more comprehensive, the other side of which may be is more vague.  That said, both would be OK for the definition.

As for abstract, as explained in my previous mails, “abstract” is more related to the policy used to provide the consumer with a selective view of the network, which is mainly about the NBI, while in the definition we may also want to cover the characteristics of the transport slice itself.

Best regards,
Jie

From: Teas-ns-dt [mailto:[e-mail]] On Behalf Of Jeff Tantsura
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2020 3:03 AM
To: Eric Gray <eric.gray=[e-mail]<mailto:eric.gray=[e-mail]>>
Cc: LUIS MIGUEL CONTRERAS MURILLO <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>>; Belotti, Sergio (Nokia - IT/Vimercate) <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>>; [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [Teas-ns-dt] Comment to definitions draft in today's call -- logical vs abstract vs virtual

+1 to “logical”
Regards,
Jeff

On Mar 5, 2020, at 10:06, Eric Gray <eric.gray=[e-mail]<mailto:eric.gray=[e-mail]>> wrote:

Yes, the separation of virtual and real is a big part of the “freight” that “virtual” carries.

At a “Disruptive Technologies” class given at AT&T decades ago, the teacher told us “Whenever you hear ‘virtual’ – you should interpret this as ‘I am lying.’”

This is only a perception thing, but that does not mean it is not just as real as if it were real.  In way too many cases, virtual is used explicitly to distinguish it from reality.  For example, “virtual reality” is pretty much never considered to include “real reality.”  😊

I tend to prefer “logical” in this context, over either “virtual” or “abstract” – in no small part because “abstract” also has “freight.” “Abstract” is often considered to be similar in meaning to “surreal” – which is very unlikely to be what we mean by an “abstract topology” for example.  I cannot wrap my head around the notion of a network designed (for instance) by either Salvador Dali, or M.C. Escher.

But these are minor preferences.  With the exception of context-related cases (where we need to use the terminology that fits best in a given context), I think we should try to be consistent and I am fine with any term everyone can live with.

From: Teas-ns-dt <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>> On Behalf Of Belotti, Sergio (Nokia - IT/Vimercate)
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2020 12:35 PM
To: LUIS MIGUEL CONTRERAS MURILLO <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>>; [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [Teas-ns-dt] Comment to definitions draft in today's call -- logical vs abstract vs virtual

I think that logical (or even abstract) is more comprehensive since virtual reminds to some kind of virtualization of the underlying resources, but a slice could naturally involve (dedicated) physical resources. So that is why I'm inclined to use logical as a more generic term.

Virtualization has nothing to do with “select” only physical resources but instead is related to select underlying resources (physical or abstract) in the prospective to a particular customer, application or service.
If this was your problem with virtual , it is not a problem.

Regards
SErgio

From: Teas-ns-dt <[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>> On Behalf Of LUIS MIGUEL CONTRERAS MURILLO
Sent: Thursday, March 5, 2020 6:12 PM
To: [e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
Subject: [Teas-ns-dt] Comment to definitions draft in today's call -- logical vs abstract vs virtual

Hi all,

Apologies, I experienced problems in the call today, not being able for me to speak up (even I lost part of the discussions, apologies again).

I wrote my preference in the chat, I think you couldn’t echoed.

So respect to the discussion of preference for logical  vs abstract vs virtual, I think that logical (or even abstract) is more comprehensive since virtual reminds to some kind of virtualization of the underlying resources, but a slice could naturally involve (dedicated) physical resources. So that is why I'm inclined to use logical as a more generic term.

Note that in the operators’ vocabulary today “virtual” has further connotations (exceeding the transport part), so can be an overloaded term in some end-to-end scenarios.

Best regards

Luis


__________________________________
Luis M. Contreras

Technology and Planning
Transport, IP and Interconnection Networks
Telefónica I+D / Global CTIO unit / Telefónica

Distrito Telefónica, Edificio Sur 3, Planta 3
28050 Madrid
España / Spain

Skype (Lync): [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>



________________________________

Este mensaje y sus adjuntos se dirigen exclusivamente a su destinatario, puede contener información privilegiada o confidencial y es para uso exclusivo de la persona o entidad de destino. Si no es usted. el destinatario indicado, queda notificado de que la lectura, utilización, divulgación y/o copia sin autorización puede estar prohibida en virtud de la legislación vigente. Si ha recibido este mensaje por error, le rogamos que nos lo comunique inmediatamente por esta misma vía y proceda a su destrucción.

The information contained in this transmission is privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, do not read it. Please immediately reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error and then delete it.

Esta mensagem e seus anexos se dirigem exclusivamente ao seu destinatário, pode conter informação privilegiada ou confidencial e é para uso exclusivo da pessoa ou entidade de destino. Se não é vossa senhoria o destinatário indicado, fica notificado de que a leitura, utilização, divulgação e/ou cópia sem autorização pode estar proibida em virtude da legislação vigente. Se recebeu esta mensagem por erro, rogamos-lhe que nos o comunique imediatamente por esta mesma via e proceda a sua destruição
--
Teas-ns-dt mailing list
[e-mail]<mailto:[e-mail]>
https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/teas-ns-dt