# Introduction
The A&AI Model Loader Service is an application that facilitates the distribution and ingestion of
-new service and resource models from the SDC to the A&AI.
+new service and resource models and VNF catalogs from the SDC to the A&AI.
## Features
* polls the UEB/DMaap cluster for notification events
* downloads artifacts from SDC upon receipt of a distribution event
* pushes distribution components to A&AI
+
+### VNF Catalog loading
+The Model Loader supports two methods for supplying VNF Catalog data for loading into A&AI:
+
+* Embedded TOSCA image and vendor data<br/>VNF Catalog data can be embedded within the TOSCA yaml files contained in the CSAR.
+
+
+* VNF Catalog XML files<br/>VNF Catalog data in the form of XML files can be supplied in the CSAR under the path `Artifacts/Deployment/VNF_CATALOG`
+
+**Note: Each CSAR should provide VNF Catalog information using only one of the above methods. If a CSAR contains both TOSCA and XML VNF Catalog information, a deploy failure will be logged and published to SDC, and no VNF Catalog data will be loaded into A&AI**
+
## Compiling Model Loader
Model Loader can be compiled by running `mvn clean install`
The following file must be present in this directory on the host machine:
-_model-loader.properties_
+_model-loader.properties_
# Always false. TLS Auth currently not supported
ml.distribution.ACTIVE_SERVER_TLS_AUTH=false
{{your docker repo}}/model-loader
where
-
+
{{your docker repo}}
is the Docker repository you have published your image to.