Network function virtualization: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:28, 9 December 2021

Revision as of 05:00, 11 December 2021

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'''Network functions virtualization''' (also '''network function virtualization''' or '''NFV''')<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.etsi.org/technologies-clusters/technologies/nfv |title = ETSI - Standards for NFV - Network Functions Virtualisation &#124; NFV Solutions}}</ref> is a [[network architecture]] concept that leverages the IT [[virtualization]] technologies to virtualize entire classes of [[network node]] functions into building blocks that may connect, or chain together, to create and deliver communication services.

NFV relies upon traditional server-[[virtualization]] techniques such as those used in enterprise IT. A virtualized network function, or VNF, is implemented within one or more [[virtual machines]] or [[OS-level virtualization|containers]] running different software and processes, on top of commercial off the shelf (COTS) high-volume servers, switches and storage devices, or even [[cloud computing]] infrastructure, instead of having custom hardware appliances for each network function thereby avoiding vendor lock-in.