Understanding Network Function Virtualization

Without networking we would be living in the Stone Age. No not the socializing kind; networking as in connecting several computer systems together! Networks allow us to instantly send and receive information as well as access data from other systems on the network. If you have ever sent an email or browsed a Wikipedia article, then congratulations, you’ve just used a network called the Internet!

However, most of us are unaware of the actual working of networks – be it the Internet or your enterprise network that allows IT teams to send those pesky reminders to update your login password! Networks generally require a complex hardware infrastructure to operate, although that is changing now. With Network Function Virtualization (NFV), networks can be provisioned, maintained and upgraded simply through software, eliminating the need for expensive hardware such as firewalls, routers, servers, bridges and switches – they can all be virtualized now!

So, what really is this new-fangled Network Function Virtualization?

What Is Network Function Virtualization?

Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is a method of virtualizing network functions (routers, firewalls, load balancers, etc.) that have traditionally been run on proprietary hardware. Virtual machines (VMs) are used to bundle these services together, allowing businesses to provision and manage their networks using software. Essentially, with NFV, you don't require specific hardware for each network function; you just need a single piece of software to manage virtualized services! #AllInOne

If only IBM had known about this technology in 1956 – but that’s just wishful thinking! On that note, let’s explore the history of NFV.

Evolution And Origins Of Network Function Virtualization

At the OpenFlow World Congress in 2012, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) - a consortium of seven of the world's leading telecoms network operators and service providers, including AT&T, China Mobile, BT Group, Deutsche Telekom and others – first proposed Network Function Virtualization. Their goal was to get network services up and running faster.

Soon, several open-source projects (ETSI, Open Platform for NFV, Open Network Automation Platform, Open Source MANO, MEF, etc.) started working on developing NFV standards. The field of Network Function Virtualization grew quickly, thanks to the various proposals from these organizations. Finally, in 2019, NFV Release 4 was formally announced.

Well, that’s all good – but how does NFV even work?

How Does Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Work?

Think of the network you use at work – it needs Wi-Fi routers, firewalls, switches and other hardware paraphernalia to operate. The IT team needs to monitor and maintain each component to ensure the network works at its optimum capacity. Network Function Virtualization essentially substitutes the functionality delivered by each hardware component with virtual machines (think of it as a virtual component that operates just like the physical one) to accomplish the same networking tasks.

As a result, businesses achieve a software-defined network (commonly called SD-WAN or software-defined wide area network) that enables them to program and automate their network functionality. Load balancing, traffic routing and even firewall security operations can be handled by software rather than hardware. Naturally, this results in lower operating costs, centralized operations, quicker provisioning and easier scaling of networks.

If you’re invested in the idea, you need to be aware of the main components of Network Function Virtualization – read on!

What Are The Primary Components Of Network Function Virtualization?

The NFV architecture proposed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defined the components based on certain standards that promote better stability and interoperability. No matter which service provider your business chooses, NFV will consist of these components -
 

• Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) –

  These virtual applications provide network functions such as resource sharing, load balancing, firewall services, IP configuration, etc.

• Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVi) –

  This brings together all network components to a unified platform that helps manage the enterprise’s network functionality such as computing and storage.

• Management, Automation And Network Orchestration (MANO) –

  This module provides the framework needed to manage the NFVi and provision new network functions quicker.

Now that you can name all three components, here are some benefits that will help you show off your newly gained NFV knowledge to your IT team!

Benefits Of Network Function Virtualization

There are several benefits to adopting NFV for your business. Earlier, network managers had to purchase dedicated hardware, manually configure and connect them to construct a network - talk about time-consuming and demanding expertise! Network Function Virtualization (NFV) allows networks to run on a single standard server, which is much less expensive and requires minutes to set up.

A virtualized network is also easier to design and maintain as the functionality can be changed on demand thanks to the ease with which virtual machines can be deployed and modified. It also gives you the freedom to update the functionality as needed when the demand changes. Hence, businesses are able to deploy network services and applications quickly.

For example, if a business requires a new network function, a new VM can handle the request. If the feature is no longer required, that specific VM can be decommissioned. This is also a low-risk method of determining the value of a proposed new service without disrupting the regular functioning of the network.

Yes, NFV is cutting-edge stuff – but as we said before, networks are getting smarter!

What’s The Future Of Network Function Virtualization?

As the number of companies working with Network Function Virtualization grows, interoperability will become a top priority. The NFV ISG specifications introduced in 2017 did bring in some standardization, especially with respect to unified API integrations but NFV has a long way to go. The final goal is to enable multi-vendor interoperability. This will enable enterprises to adhere to networking regulations and essential compliance guidelines, while evaluating services from a number of vendors.

Moreover, attempts are being made to integrate 5G with Network Function Virtualization, which will boost the speed at which virtual networks are deployed and operate. Together, NFV and 5G will look to expand the scope of applications such as smart digital factories, autonomous driving, Industrial IoT and others. Sounds exciting, right?

Conclusion

According to Statista, Network Function Virtualization investments will continue to grow, reaching over USD 8 billion by 2032. Heck, we've only been using NFV for a few years but are already seeing the revolution it's bringing to the networking table. Many service providers are turning to NFV to virtualize their networks instead of relying on traditional network hardware – out with the old, in with the new!