The NFV architecture consists of three main components: virtualized network functions (VNFs), NFV Infrastructure (NFVI), and NFV management and orchestration (MANO). These components work together to enable the virtualization and management of network functions.
1. Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs):
VNFs are the network functions that are virtualized and run on general-purpose servers or virtual machines. These functions can include tasks such as routing, firewalling, load balancing, and deep packet inspection. By virtualizing these functions, they can be dynamically deployed, scaled, and managed without the need for dedicated hardware appliances.
Virtualized network functions offer several advantages over traditional hardware-based network functions. They provide flexibility and agility, allowing for easier and faster deployment of new services. VNFs can also be scaled up or down based on demand, enabling efficient resource utilization. Additionally, VNFs can be easily updated or upgraded, reducing the need for costly hardware replacements.
2. NFV Infrastructure (NFVI):
NFVI refers to the underlying hardware and software infrastructure that supports the deployment and execution of VNFs. It includes compute resources, storage, and networking components. The NFVI provides the necessary resources and virtualization capabilities to host and manage VNFs.
The compute resources in NFVI typically consist of servers or virtual machines that host the VNFs. These servers can be located in data centers or at the network edge. Storage resources are used to store virtual machine images, configuration files, and data generated by the VNFs. Networking components, such as switches and routers, connect the VNFs to each other and to external networks.
NFVI also includes virtualization software, such as hypervisors or container technologies, that enable the creation and management of virtual machines or containers running VNFs. This virtualization layer abstracts the underlying hardware resources and provides isolation and resource management capabilities.
3. NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO):
MANO is responsible for the management and orchestration of the NFV infrastructure and VNFs. It provides the necessary tools and functionalities to automate the lifecycle of VNFs, including their deployment, scaling, monitoring, and termination.
MANO consists of three main components: the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM), the VNF Manager (VNFM), and the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO). The VIM is responsible for managing the NFVI resources, including compute, storage, and networking. It handles tasks such as resource allocation, monitoring, and virtual machine lifecycle management.
The VNFM is responsible for managing the lifecycle of individual VNF instances. It handles tasks such as VNF instantiation, scaling, and termination. The VNFM also monitors the VNFs and collects performance data for analytics and troubleshooting purposes.
The NFVO is the overall orchestrator that coordinates and manages the VNFs and NFVI resources. It interacts with the VIM and VNFM to ensure efficient resource allocation and optimal VNF placement. The NFVO also manages the service lifecycle and coordinates the deployment of multiple VNFs to create end-to-end network services.
The NFV architecture comprises the virtualized network functions (VNFs), the NFV Infrastructure (NFVI), and the NFV management and orchestration (MANO). These components work together to virtualize and manage network functions, providing flexibility, scalability, and automation in network deployments.