Redes 5G y Tecnologías Habilitadoras

Marco Antonio Sotelo Monge

 Tema 03:
Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)
Think about …

What are the main limitations of hardware-based

solutions in the networking industry?

Is it easy to deploy a network appliance/node in your

network infrastructure?
Network Functions Virtualization
NFV: Definition

Network Functions Virtualization aims to transform the way that network

operators architect networks by evolving standard IT virtualization technology
to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high-
volume servers, switches and storage, which could be located in Datacentres,
Network Nodes and in the end-user premises.

Network Functions Virtualization is applicable to any data plane packet

processing and control plane function in mobile and fixed networks.

ETSI
Relationship with Software-defined Networks (ETSI)
Network
Competitive supply abstractions &
of innovative faster innovation
applications. Software-
Open defined
Innovation Networks

Network
Functions
Virtualization Reduces CAPEX,
OPEX, Space and
Power consumption
NFV: Applications

Switching elements Tunnelling gateway elements

[NAT, routing] [PSec/SSL]

Mobile network nodes Traffic analysis

[MME, PDN-GW] [DPI, QoE]

Application-level
Service assurance
optimisation
[SLA monitoring]
[Cache Servers, Load Balancers]

Security functions
[Firewall, IDS]
Benefits of NFV

Reduced CAPEX, OPEX,

Faster Time to Market
power consumption

Configuration/Topology
Scaling up/down
adaptation on demand

Improved operational
Multi-tenancy support
efficiency
Technology Enablers of NFV

Cloud computing Standard High Volume Servers

Iaas
X86 architecture
PaaS
COTS
SaaS
Cloud Computing vs. Dedicated Housing
Virtualization vs Cloud Computing

Virtualization Cloud Computing

Resource provisioning

Manual Automatic
Compute, Storage and Network: key issue

Compute
Storage
Networking

Flexible
Scalable

Physical entity Virtual entities

Poses the major constraint in the

manufacturing
Challenges for Network Functions Virtualization

Portability/
Performance Trade-Off
Interoperability

Migration and co-

Management and
existence of legacy
Orchestration
networks

Automation Security & Resilience

Integration
NFV Architecture
NFV: Terminology
Acronym Description
VNF Virtualized Network Function
VNFC Virtualized Network Function Component
EMS Element Management System
NFVI NFV Infrastructure
VNFD Virtualized Network Function Descriptor
VIM Virtualized Infrastructure Manager
M&O Management and Orchestration
NF Network Function
OAM Operations, Administration and Maintenance/Management
OSS Operations Support System
BSS Business Support System
SWA Software Architecture
Internal VNF Architecture

EM

SWA-4
VNF: one or
VNF multiple entities
SWA-1 SWA-2 SWA-3 (VNFCs)
VNFC VNFC VNF Manager

Each VNF has

associated one
SWA-5 SWA-5 VNF Descriptor
(VNFD)
NFVI
VNF Interfaces
SWA-1 Interfaces
Interface enabling communication between various network functions within
the same or different network service.

VNF

SWA-1
PNF
VNF

Endpoint
SWA-2 Interfaces

Refer to VNF internal interfaces, i.e. for VNFC to VNFC communication

SWA-3 Interfaces
Interfaces the VNF with the NFV management and orchestration, specifically
with the VNF Manager. Relates to life cycle management
SWA-4 Interfaces
This management interface is used for the runtime management of the VNF
according to the Fulfilment, Assurance, and Billing (FAB).
SWA-5 Interfaces
Interfaces that exist between each VNF and the underlying NFVI. The SWA-5
interface provides access to a virtualized slice of the NFVI resources allocated to
the VNF.
VNF Design Patterns

VNF Internal Structure VNF Instantiation

VNFC states VNF Load Balancing Models

VNF Scaling Modes VNF Component Re-use

VNF Internal Structure

VNF VNF VNFC

1
VNFC
OR VNFC
VNFC
2 3

Virtualization
container

VNF with single component VNF with multiple components

VNF Instantiation

VNF 1,1 VNF 1,n

VNFC OR VNFC
VNFC
VNFC

Non-Parallelizable VNFC Parallelizable VNFC

VNFC states

VNF VNF VNF

VNFC VNFC VNFC

S S

Stateless VNFC Stateful VNFC

S

Externalized state
VNF Load Balancing: Internal vs External

VNFM
instantiates the
LB, which may
itself be a
VNFC.

Manages
packets/flows/s
essions to/from
the different
VNF instances.
VNF Load Balancing: E2E vs Infrastructure

N VNF
instances seen
as N logical NFs
by a Peer NF

A load balancer
provided by the
NFV
Infrastructure
VNF Scaling Modes

1 Auto-scaling

Scaling according to the rules of the VNFD

VNF Scaling Modes

2 On-demand scaling

Scaling triggered in response to a monitoring outcome.

VNF Scaling Modes

3 Scaling based on a management request

Manually or OSS/BSS triggered scaling (e.g. by NOC operators)

Hands-on:
Consider each of the design pattern criterion revised so far in order to plan an
SDN/NFV-based DPI deployment in the following network topology.

SDNC Sink/
Decoy
Gateway
OF2 Malicious
OF3

DPI Normal
A OF4
B
NFV role in 5G ecosystem

Push towards the

accomplishment of 5G KPIs

Several KPIs at some extent

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Final remarks

1
NFV comes up with the idea of running network functions on
general purpose hardware, based on virtualization technologies.

2 The final goal is to enhace network services provisioning while

reducing OPEX and CAPEX.

3 An NFV architecture comprises the related components and

interfaces to provide virtualized network services on-demand.

4 By introducing software-based solutions, it is reduced the

dependence on network equipment providers.

5 NFV is a major 5G enabler since it complies with the network

programmability principles and softwarization, as SDN does.

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References

▪ ETSI, Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) – White Paper # 3: Network

Operator Perspectives on Industry Progress. October 2013.

▪ Mojtaba Vaezi, Ying Zhang. Cloud mobile networks : from RAN to EPC .
Springer, 2017.

▪ ETSI, GS NFV 003 V1.2.1: Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Terminology

for Main Concepts in NFV. 2014.

▪ ETSI, GS NFV 002 V1.2.1: Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Architectural

Framework. 2014.

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Q&A
Thank you