What is VNF?
Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) are virtualized network services running on open source computing platforms independent of hardware technology. Common VNFs include virtualized routers, firewalls, WAN optimization, and network address translation (NAT) services. Most VNFs are run in virtual machines (VMs) on common virtualization infrastructure software such as Openstack, VMWare or KVM.
VNFs can be linked together like building blocks in a process known as service chaining. When the VNFs are linked using service changing and put into operation, they are called Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Although the concept is not new, service chaining—and the application provisioning process—is simplified and shortened using VNF technology.
VNFs can help increase network scalability and agility, while also enabling better use of network infrastructure resources. Other benefits include reducing power consumption and increasing security and available physical space, since VNFs replace physical hardware. This also results in reduced operational and capital expenditures.
VNFs can be linked together like building blocks in a process known as service chaining. When the VNFs are linked using service changing and put into operation, they are called Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Although the concept is not new, service chaining—and the application provisioning process—is simplified and shortened using VNF technology.
VNFs can help increase network scalability and agility, while also enabling better use of network infrastructure resources. Other benefits include reducing power consumption and increasing security and available physical space, since VNFs replace physical hardware. This also results in reduced operational and capital expenditures.
Network functions virtualization (NFV) and Virtual Network Function (VNF)are interrelated in SDN. Often used interchangeably, both aim primarily on optimization of the network services, contrary to software-defined networking (SDN), which separates the control and forwarding plane for a centralized view of the network. Virtual network function is designed to consolidate and deliver the networking components necessary to support a full virtualized environment.
However, in an NFV environment, a virtual network function (or VNF) takes on the responsibility of handling specific network functions that run on one or more virtual machines (VMs) on top of the hardware networking infrastructure — routers, switches, etc. Individual virtual network functions can be connected or combined together as building blocks to offer a full-scale networking communication service.
However, in an NFV environment, a virtual network function (or VNF) takes on the responsibility of handling specific network functions that run on one or more virtual machines (VMs) on top of the hardware networking infrastructure — routers, switches, etc. Individual virtual network functions can be connected or combined together as building blocks to offer a full-scale networking communication service.
Relation between VNF and NFV
- First you create a VM on commodity hardware (x86 servers) to host a service (say Firewall).
- Once the VM is created, required software firewall image is installed in that VM, network configuration is done, and other related config is done to make it ready for operation and start handling the customer traffic. This can also be said that a VNF (virtual firewall) is ready for operation.
- While we connect this VNF (Noun - virtual firewall) to the network (say with other VNFs - a virtual switch, router, or a load balancer - also called service chaining) and the VNF starts handling the customer traffic/service the network function (intially that could be run using a dedicated Hardware firewall - say Cisco ASA) is virtualized and now running the service which is called NFV (verb).
In simple english language, VNF is a Noun and NFV is a verb.
