Network Functions Virtualization” (NFV)

• The term “refers to the use of virtual

machines in place of physical
network appliances.
• There is a requirement for a
hypervisor to operate networking
software and procedures like load
balancing and routing by virtual
computers.
 Network Functions Virtualization” (NFV)
• A network functions virtualization standard
was first proposed at the OpenFlow World
Congress in 2012 by the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI),

• a group of service providers that includes

AT&T, China Mobile, BT Group, Deutsche
Telekom, and many more. 
 Need of NFV:

• With the help of NFV, it becomes possible

to separate communication services from
specialized hardware like routers and
firewalls.

• This eliminates the need for buying new

hardware and network operations can
offer new services on demand.
 Need of NFV:

• With this, it is possible to deploy network

components in a matter of hours as
opposed to months as with conventional
networking.

• Furthermore, the virtualized services can

run on less expensive generic servers.
 Advantages:

• Lower expenses as it follows Pay as you go

which implies companies only pay for what
they require.

• Less equipment as it works on virtual

machines rather than actual machines
which leads to fewer appliances, which
lowers operating expenses as well.
 Advantages:

• Scalability of network architecture is quite

quick and simple using virtual functions in
NFV.

• As a result, it does not call for the purchase

of more hardware
 Working of NFV

• Usage of software by virtual machines enables to

carry out the same networking tasks as
conventional hardware.

• The software handles the task of load balancing,

routing, and firewall security.

• Network engineers can automate the

provisioning of the virtual network and program
all of its various components using a hypervisor
or software-defined networking controller. 
 Benefits of NFV:

• Many service providers believe that

advantages outweigh the issues of NFV.  
• Traditional hardware-based networks are
time-consuming as these require network
administrators to buy specialized
hardware units, manually configure them,
then join them to form a network.
• For this skilled or well-equipped worker is
required.
 Benefits of NFV:

• It costs less as it works under the management

of a hypervisor, which is significantly less
expensive than buying specialized hardware
that serves the same purpose.

• Easy to configure and administer the network

because of a virtualized network.

• As a result, network capabilities may be

updated or added instantly.
 Risks of NFV

• Security hazards do exist, though, and network

functions virtualization security issues have shown to
be a barrier to widespread adoption among telecom
companies.
• Some dangers associated with implementing network
function virtualization that service providers should
take into account:
• Physical security measures do not work:
 Comparing virtualized network components to
locked-down physical equipment in a data center
enhances their susceptibility to new types of assaults.
 Risks of NFV:

• Malware is difficult to isolate and contain:

Malware travels more easily among virtual
components running on the same virtual computer
than between hardware components that can be
isolated or physically separated.
• Network activity is less visible: 
• Because traditional traffic monitoring tools struggle
to detect potentially malicious anomalies in network
traffic going east-west between virtual machines,
• NFV necessitates more fine-grained security
solutions.
 NFV Architecture:

• An individual proprietary hardware component,

such as a router, switch, gateway, firewall, load
balancer, or intrusion detection system,
performs a specific networking function in a
typical network architecture.

• A virtualized network substitutes software

programs that operate on virtual machines for
these pieces of hardware to carry out
networking operations.
 NFV Architecture:

Three components make up an NFV

architecture:
• Centralized virtual network
infrastructure
• Applications
• Framework
 NFV Architecture:

1. Centralized virtual network infrastructure: 

The foundation of an NFV infrastructure can

be either a platform for managing containers
or a hypervisor that abstracts the resources for
computation, storage, and networking.
 NFV Architecture:

2. Applications: 
Software delivers many forms of network
functionality by substituting for the hardware
elements of a conventional network design
(virtualized network functions).
3.Framework:
  To manage the infrastructure and provide network
functionality, a framework is required (commonly
abbreviated as MANO, meaning Management,
Automation, and Network Orchestration).
 What is Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

• The telecom industry sometimes has a way of making even the

smartest of us feel lost, confused, and occasionally even a little
dumb.  Just when you’ve figured out the latest hot buttons in
the industry buzz – cloud computing, OpenFlow and software
defined networking (SDN) – along comes another new concept
for you to get your head around.
• The latest new concept is called 
Network Functions Virtualization, or NFV, and it has rightfully
taken its place in the industry conversation as another step
towards creating more agile, lower cost network infrastructure.
• But what exactly is NFV, and how does it fit into the current
industry drive towards enabling more open, consolidated,
packet-based networks?  Let’s start with the basics
 What is Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

• The telecom industry sometimes has a way of making even the

smartest of us feel lost, confused, and occasionally even a little
dumb.  Just when you’ve figured out the latest hot buttons in
the industry buzz – cloud computing, OpenFlow and software
defined networking (SDN) – along comes another new concept
for you to get your head around.
• The latest new concept is called 
Network Functions Virtualization, or NFV, and it has rightfully
taken its place in the industry conversation as another step
towards creating more agile, lower cost network infrastructure.
• But what exactly is NFV, and how does it fit into the current
industry drive towards enabling more open, consolidated,
packet-based networks?  Let’s start with the basics
• So what exactly is Network Functions
Virtualization?
• Network Function Virtualization, or NFV, is a way
to reduce cost and accelerate service
deployment for network operators by
decoupling functions like a firewall or encryption
from dedicated hardware and moving them to
virtual servers.
• Instead of installing expensive proprietary hardware, service providers can
purchase inexpensive switches, storage and servers to run virtual machines
that perform network functions.  This collapses multiple functions into a
single physical server, reducing costs and minimizing truck rolls.

If a customer wants to add a new network function, the service provider

can simply spin up a new virtual machine to perform that function.
• For example, instead of deploying a new hardware appliance across the
network to enable network encryption, encryption software can be
deployed on a standardized server or switch already in the network.
• This virtualization of network functions reduces dependency on dedicated
hardware appliances for network operators, and allows for improved
scalability and customization across the entire network. Different from a
virtualized network, NFV seeks to offload network functions only, rather
than the entire network.
 What are the advantages of NFV?

• NFV reduces the need for dedicated hardware to deploy and

manage networks by offloading network functions into
software that can run on industry-standard hardware and can
be managed from anywhere within the operator’s network.
• Separating network functions from hardware 
yields numerous benefits for the network operator, which
include:
• Reduced space needed for network hardware
• Reduce network power consumption
• Reduced network maintenance costs
• Easier network upgrades
• Longer life cycles for network hardware
• Reduced maintenance and hardware costs
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D95bM-
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