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Virtual Network Functions

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Some common networking terms clearly explained

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Virtual Network Functions

VNF meaning in networking

Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) are software network elements (or groups of connected network elements) like routers, firewall or load balancers that replace networking hardware. In other words, network services are performed by dedicated software that runs on Virtual Machines that can be managed by Virtual Infrastructure Managers (VIMs) like OpenStack.

Such an approach offers several benefits. First, there is no need to install and configure each device manually. In complicated networks, that requires a great deal of manual work. If software takes on a network function once performed by dedicated devices, the network configuration takes minutes, not weeks or months. Thus VNFs increase network scalability and reduce operating costs.

When talking about VNFs, you may also come across the terms Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Even though these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. NFV is the name for the network architecture concept that can be realized by multiple elements, including management (see MANO model), while VNFs are primary components of NFV architecture.

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Thumbnail of an article about Infographic: The NFV MANO model in practice
NETWORKS

Infographic: The NFV MANO model in practice

Please bear in mind that this infographic does not pretend to present a complete and ultimate mapping. It is only our vision based on the specific products. Since it is tough to precisely map the existing solutions, the model itself should be treated as an approximation. The elements presented are only examples and obviously do not show every solution available on the market. We are always eager to discuss this subject and consider different points of view.
Thumbnail of an article about Seamlessly transitioning to CNFs with Tungsten Fabric
NETWORKS

Seamlessly transitioning to CNFs with Tungsten Fabric

Cloud-native Network Functions (CNFs), by all appearances, seem to be the next big trend in network architecture. They are a logical step forward in the evolution of network architecture. Networks were initially based on physical hardware like routers, load balancers and firewalls. Such physical equipment was then replaced by today’s standard, VMs to create Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs). Now, a lot of research is going into moving these functions into containers. In such a scenario, a container orchestration platform would be responsible for hosting CNFs.
Thumbnail of an article about Uncontainerizable VNFs in a CNF environment
NETWORKS

Uncontainerizable VNFs in a CNF environment

Cloud-native network functions (CNFs, for short) are a hot topic in network architecture. CNFs use containers as the base for network functions and thus would replace today’s most widely used standard, Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). In such a scenario, a container orchestration platform--Kubernetes, say--could be responsible not only for orchestrating the containers, but also for directing network traffic to proper pods. While this remains an area under research, it has aroused considerable interest among industry leaders.
Thumbnail of an article about A traffic generator for measuring network performance
QUALITY ASSURANCE
NETWORKS

A traffic generator for measuring network performance

It is probably the cloud that first comes to mind when you think about the architecture of modern services. It is an obvious choice for building large, distributed systems from scratch, as well as for the many enterprises migrating their infrastructure and services to the cloud. It is all very appealing, and modern, and intelligent. But that does not mean there are not serious challenges in going cloud. How should the infrastructure in use be tested? How can network performance be measured reliably in a cloud environment?
Thumbnail of an article about The difference between SDN and NFV — a simple guide
NETWORKS

The difference between SDN and NFV — a simple guide

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies are similar and can easily be mistaken for one another. Given their growing popularity of late, it is good to know what SDN and NFV stand for, why they are so popular and what business benefits you can expect from them. In 2016, Cisco published the report “The Zettabyte Era: Trends and Analysis” announcing that by the end of 2016 annual global IP traffic would pass a zettabyte. To be mathematically precise, a zettabyte is a measure of storage capacity equal to 1021 (1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) bytes.

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