What is Network Function Virtualization?

Network functions virtualization (NFV) involves replacing network appliance hardware with virtual machines that utilize a hypervisor to execute networking software and processes like routing and load balancing.

History of network functions virtualization

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), a consortium of service providers such as AT&T, China Mobile, BT Group, Deutsche Telekom, and others, initially proposed the concept of a network functions virtualization nfv standard at the OpenFlow World Congress in 2012. These providers sought a method to expedite the deployment of network services.

Traditionally, launching new network services was a cumbersome process that involved allocating space and power for additional hardware boxes. With rising energy and space costs, coupled with a decline in skilled networking hardware engineers, the ETSI committee turned to network functions virtualization to address these challenges. NFV eliminates the need for physical space dedicated to hardware appliances and reduces the complexity of configuring and managing networking infrastructure.

Today, several open-source projects are actively developing NFV standards, including ETSI, Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV), Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP), Open Source MANO (OSM), and MEF (formerly the Metro Ethernet Forum). The multitude of organizations presenting competing standard proposals has made it challenging for service providers to fully embrace nfv virtualization. Nevertheless, NFV is gaining popularity due to the increasing complexity and demands of modern enterprise networks.

Why network functions virtualization?

NFV enables communication services to be separated from dedicated hardware, such as routers and firewalls. This separation allows network operations to offer new services dynamically without the need for new hardware installations. Deploying network components via NFV takes hours instead of months compared to traditional networking. Additionally, virtualized services can operate on less expensive, generic servers rather than proprietary hardware.

Other benefits of NFV include:

• Pay-as-you-go: NFV’s pay-as-you-go models can reduce costs by allowing businesses to pay only for the services they use.
• Reduced appliance dependency: Using virtual machines instead of physical appliances reduces the need for multiple appliances, lowering operational costs.
• Scalability: Scaling network architecture using virtual machines is quicker and more straightforward, eliminating the necessity for additional hardware purchases.

How does network functions virtualization work?

Network functions virtualization (NFV) essentially replaces the functionality provided by individual hardware networking components. This means that virtual machines run software to perform the same networking functions as traditional hardware, such as load balancing, routing, and firewall security. With a hypervisor or software-defined networking controller, network engineers can program all segments of the virtual network and automate network provisioning. IT managers can configure various aspects of network functionality through a single interface, simplifying management tasks.

Benefits of network functions virtualization

Many service providers believe that the advantages of network functions virtualization (NFV) outweigh the associated risks. In traditional hardware-based networks, network managers must purchase dedicated hardware devices and manually configure and connect them to establish a network. This process is time-consuming and necessitates specialized networking expertise.

NFV enables virtual network functions to operate on a standard, cost-effective generic server controlled by a hypervisor, which is more economical than purchasing proprietary hardware devices. Network configuration and management are significantly simplified with a virtualized network. Moreover, network functionality can be adjusted or expanded on demand because the network operates on easily provisioned and managed virtual machines.

Risks of network functions virtualization

NFV enhances network responsiveness, flexibility, and scalability while accelerating time to market and reducing equipment costs. However, security risks, particularly concerning network functions virtualisation, have hindered widespread adoption among telecommunications providers. Here are key risks associated with implementing NFV that service providers must address:

• Ineffectiveness of Physical Security Controls: Virtualized network components are more susceptible to new types of attacks compared to physically secured equipment in data centers.
• Challenges in Isolating Malware: Malware can more easily propagate among virtual components within a single virtual machine compared to isolated or physically separated hardware components.
• Transparency Issues in Network Traffic: Traditional traffic monitoring tools struggle to detect potentially malicious anomalies in east-west network traffic between virtual machines, necessitating more sophisticated security solutions for NFV environments.
• Complex Security Requirements: NFV environments are complex, with multiple layers that pose challenges in implementing comprehensive security policies.

Addressing these security concerns is crucial for telecommunications providers considering the adoption of network functions virtualization.

NFV architecture

In a traditional network setup, various proprietary hardware devices like routers, switches, gateways, firewalls, load balancers, and intrusion detection systems handle different networking tasks. In contrast, a virtualized network replaces these devices with software applications running on virtual machines to perform these tasks.

An NFV architecture comprises three main components:

• Centralized virtual network infrastructure: This infrastructure, managed by either a container management platform or a hypervisor, abstracts compute, storage, and network resources.
• Software applications: These applications replace the hardware components of traditional network architectures to provide different types of network functionality, known as virtualized network functions.
• Framework: A management, automation, and network orchestration framework (often referred to as MANO) is essential for managing the infrastructure and provisioning network functionality effectively.

NFV vs. SDN

While NFV separates networking services from dedicated hardware appliances, software-defined networking (SDN) divides network control functions—such as routing, policy definition, and applications—from network forwarding functions. In SDN, a virtual network control plane determines traffic routing, enabling comprehensive network programming through a unified interface. Automation of network control functions in SDN allows networks to promptly adapt to dynamic workloads. SDN can overlay either a virtual or physical network, whereas a virtual network does not necessarily depend on SDN for operation. Both SDN and NFV utilize virtualization technology as a fundamental component.

FAQ’s

What is Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)?

NFV involves replacing traditional hardware-based network appliances with virtual machines (VMs) that use a hypervisor to execute networking software. This allows functions such as routing and load balancing to be performed by software rather than physical devices.

What is the history behind Network Functions Virtualization?

The concept of NFV was first proposed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) at the OpenFlow World Congress in 2012. This initiative aimed to streamline the deployment of network services by virtualizing functions that were previously handled by dedicated hardware appliances.

Why choose Network Functions Virtualization?

NFV offers significant benefits over traditional networking methods. It allows for quicker deployment of network services, reduces equipment costs, and enhances scalability by running on generic servers rather than proprietary hardware.

How does Network Functions Virtualization work?

NFV operates by running software applications on virtual machines, which replace the hardware components of a traditional network setup. A hypervisor or software-defined networking (SDN) controller manages these virtualized functions, enabling easier network provisioning and management through a unified interface.

Conclusion

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) revolutionizes network service delivery by virtualizing hardware functions onto software-based virtual machines. This approach enhances agility, scalability, and cost-efficiency in network management. Despite challenges in security and standardization, ongoing advancements in open-source initiatives and industry collaboration, led by organizations like ETSI, highlight NFV’s growing importance. As telecommunications providers and enterprises modernize their networks, NFV emerges as a pivotal technology driving innovation and efficiency in the digital era.