NFV(Network Function Virtualization) 네트워크 기능 가상화

NFV (Network Function Virtualization)

 

Fields of Application and Use Cases 

Network Functions Virtualisation is applicable to any data plane packet processing and control plane function in mobile and fixed networks. Potential examples that can be listed include (not in any particular order): 

 

• Switching elements: BNG, CG-NAT, routers.

• Mobile network nodes: HLR/HSS, MME, SGSN, GGSN/PDN-GW, RNC, Node B, eNode B.

• Functions contained in home routers and set top boxes to create virtualised home environments.

• Tunnelling gateway elements: IPSec/SSL VPN gateways.

• Traffic analysis: DPI, QoE measurement.

• Service Assurance, SLA monitoring, Test and Diagnostics.

• NGN signalling: SBCs, IMS.

• Converged and network-wide functions: AAA servers, policy control and charging platforms.

• Application-level optimisation: CDNs, Cache Servers, Load Balancers, Application Accelerators.

• Security functions: Firewalls, virus scanners, intrusion detection systems, spam protection. 

Further studies are required to identify those network functions for which virtualisation yields most 

benefits. Use cases of interest to the authors include (not in any particular order): 

 

• A software-based DPI, providing advanced traffic analysis and multi-dimensional reporting, 

and showing the possibility of making off-the-shelf hardware work at actual line rates. 

Software-based DPI can be pervasively deployed in the network, providing much better 

analysis capabilities, as well as simpler mechanisms for deployment, update, testing, and to 

scale it to changing workloads.

• IP node implementations, supporting - for example, but not limited to: CG-NAT and BRAS 

capabilities on standard high-end servers, offering the opportunity for an effective re-use of 

hardware as the demand for such capabilities evolves.

• The virtualisation of services and capabilities that presently require dedicated hardware 

appliances on customer premises (home environment to small branch office to large 

corporate premises), including but not restricted to: firewall, web security, IPS/IDS, WAN 

acceleration and optimisation, and router functions. The virtualisation of the home 

environment including routers, hubs and set top boxes would potentially enable a simpler 

and seamless migration to IPv6, reduce energy consumption and avoid successive hardware 

updates as broadband applications and services evolve.

• The virtualisation of Content Distribution Networks (CDN), with the initial goal of extending 

and scaling Content Delivery Services more easily, and also with the objective of maximizing 

hardware re-use in PoPs by being able to install other Service Delivery Applications (e.g. Web 

Acceleration) on demand. Virtualisation of CDNs will also allow the hosting of CDN services 

from potential business partners, like external CDN providers.

• The virtualisation of a mobile core network targeting at a more cost efficient production 

environment, which allows network operators to cope with the increasing traffic demand in 

mobile networks, and leading to better resource utilization (including energy savings), more 

flexible network management (no need to change hardware for nodes’ upgrades), hardware 

consolidation, easier multi-tenancy support and faster configuration of new services. 

Network Functions Virtualisation in mobile networks can also be used to create core 

network instances optimized for specific services, e.g. for Machine-to-Machine 

communications (M2M).

• Co-ordinated implementation of cloud and networking for enterprises, allowing on-demand 

services to be offered and providing capital efficiency for enterprise customers and network 

operators.

• Hybrid fibre-DSL nodes are located deep in the external network in street cabinets, 

underground and on poles. These nodes must be very low power consumption and very 

low/zero maintenance to be economic. Virtualisation could be used to reduce hardware 

complexity at the remote node, saving energy and providing an enhanced degree of future 

proofing as services evolve. These remote nodes could more economically provide both 

fixed and wireless access if key functions were virtualised on a common platform. 

 

http://www.tid.es/es/Documents/NFV_White_PaperV2.pdf