Glossary

Network Datapath Orchestration
Continuous adjustment of network forwarding behavior in unison with upper layer flux
Ephemeral Network Function (ENF)
Usually a short-lived network task that steers or modifies packets thereby implementing a particular communication role. Both the preparation and the execution of the datapath action set, which produces the network forwarding behavior, comprise the ENF.
Network Microservice
The combined behavior of one or more ENFs realizing a communication pattern
Network Microservice Orchestrator (NMO)
A vertically distributed, highly-available system that arranges and coordinates automated tasks resulting in network microservice establishment, maintenance, and termination. May scale out as demand requires.
Network Microservice Processor (NMP)
Functional block responsible for ENF action set preparation at the switch; paired with switch datapath, which provides ENF action set execution
Network Microservice Agent (NMA)
Functional block responsible for ENF endpoint management at the host; controls host datapath in Linux kernel
Network Microservice SDK
Toolset for creating microcode to implement network microservices in either Java- or Python-like syntax
Domain
Domain is a collection of Users, Resources, and Contracts. The visibility of a set of Users, Resources, and Contracts are limited by the domain boundaries. Domain serves as a logical division between different portions of the system.
User
User is an entity that receives access to the resources that are isolated in the domain. There are two types of users: admin users and resource users. Admin user is an Orchestrator’s northbound API entity for administrator or external system. Resource user is an Orchestrator’s southbound API entity for switch or host.
Template
Generic implementation of a communication pattern comprised of ENFs; also, Network Microservice Template
Resource
Either switch datapath or host datapath; used interchangeably with node;
Contract
Customized implementation of a communication pattern comprised of ENFs; also, Network Microservice Instance or topic
Flow
Series of packets with a common set of identifiers e.g., host, contract and flow label
Northbound API
Orchestrator’s externally-facing API for management by service orchestrator
Southbound API
Orchestrator’s internally-facing API for host and switch operation
Agent API
Optional API to business logic running on host for more granular control over datapath