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The Mystery of Virtualized Network Functions: What Are VNFs?
With the rapid development of technology, the evolution of network infrastructure has caused enterprises and service providers to pay more and more attention to network function virtualization (NFV) and virtualized network functions (VNF). NFV is a network architecture concept with IT virtualization technology as its core. It aims to virtualize the functions of entire categories of network nodes and use them as interconnectable building blocks to create and provide communication services. This article will discuss in detail the definition, historical background, practical application and impact of VNFs on the network industry.
Definition of VNFs
VNFs are network functions implemented in one or more virtual machines or containers. They run different software and processes, all relying on commercial off-the-shelf servers, high-capacity switches and storage devices. Even cloud computing infrastructure.
This architecture allows service providers to avoid relying on a specific vendor for custom hardware solutions.
For example, virtual session border controllers (SBCs) can provide network protection without having to purchase and install traditional physical devices. Other NFV examples include virtual load balancers, firewalls, intrusion detection devices, etc.
The development history of NFV
In October 2012, a group of telecom operators published a white paper on Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and OpenFlow at a conference in Darmstadt, Germany. With the introduction of the "Call to Action", network functions The Virtualization Industry Specification Group (ISG) came into being. This organization brings together telecommunications industry representatives from around the world to address many different standards issues, including functional architecture, data models, security, etc.
As of May 2021, ETSI ISG NFV has released five versions of specifications and is continuously updated with new features and enhancements.
The framework and composition of NFV
The NFV framework is mainly composed of three components: virtualized network functions (VNFs), network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVI), and network functions virtualization management and orchestration (NFV-MANO) architecture.
In the design and implementation process of NFV, VNF not only needs to be able to operate independently, but also needs to achieve more complex service delivery through service chaining, which allows multiple virtual functions to be united to provide end users. required services.
Modular advantages of NFV
In the process of designing VNF, manufacturers can split their software into multiple software components, and these components are packaged uniformly through virtual machine images. Such an architecture is not only easy to manage, but can also be flexibly expanded according to needs.
Obviously, such a modular design provides CSPs (communication service providers) with efficient and flexible network management capabilities.
The relationship between NFV and SDN
NFV and SDN (Software-Defined Networking) have a highly complementary relationship. SDN successfully separates the control plane and data plane, which makes network management more flexible and efficient. By incorporating the concept of SDN, the management and orchestration of NFV infrastructure will benefit from greater dynamics.
The industry impact of NFV
With the gradual implementation of NFV technology, many large network equipment suppliers have begun to support this standard. Virtualized network functions can effectively reduce operating costs and product launch cycles, and promote network flexibility and scalability.
In order to achieve the expected benefits, NFV solutions must efficiently utilize redundant resources to achieve high availability and stable performance.
In the process of automated management and control, NFV management and orchestration (MANO) will also become the core of network management in the future. How to optimize and improve service quality in this rapidly changing environment will become future challenges and opportunities. How should we find strategies to adapt quickly in this emerging technology environment?
