Network function virtualization (NFV) is a network architecture concept that uses the technologies of IT virtualization to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that may connect, or chain together, to create communication services.
NFV relies upon, but differs from, traditional server-virtualization techniques, such as those used in enterprise IT. A virtualized network function, or VNF, may consist of one or more virtual machines running different software and processes, on top of standard high-volume servers, switches and storage, or even cloud computing infrastructure, instead of having custom hardware appliances for each network function.
For example, a virtual session border controller could be deployed to protect a network without the typical cost and complexity of obtaining and installing physical units. Other examples of NFV include virtualized load balancers, firewalls, intrusion detection devices and WAN accelerators.
Some of the values to the NFV concept are speed, agility, and cost reduction. By centralizing designs around commodity server hardware, network operators can:
- Do a single PoP/Site design based on commodity compute hardware;
o Avoiding designs involving one-off installs of appliances that have different power, cooling and space needs simplifies planning. - Utilize resources more effectively;
o Virtualization allows providers to allocate only the necessary resources needed by each feature/function. - Deploy network functions without having to send engineers to each site;
o “Truck Rolls” are costly both from a time and money standpoint. - Achieve Reductions in OpEX and CapEX; and,
- Achieve Reduction of system complexity.
