Service providers, telecom operators and enterprises are starting to introduce the use of VNFs by replacing aging PNF hardware with virtualized alternatives
What is Virtual Network Function (VNF)?
VNFs represent software implementation of network devices which are virtualized and packed in virtual machines which are scalable and movable
Hermes Network's Hybrid VNF Solutions
Hybrid VNF combined both images in SD-WAN Edge Devices or Cloud-Native with Security Cluster
Hybrid VNF Solutions
Examples of VNFs are:
- Security functions: firewalls, intrusion detection systems, virus scanners, spam protection
- Edge Devices: BRAS, vCPE, IP Edge
- Switching: BNG, CG-NAT, routers.
- Tunnelling gateway elements: IPSec/SSL VPN gateways
- Traffic analysis, QoE measurement
- Signalling: SBCs, IMS
- Application-level optimization: CDNs, load Balancers
- Set top boxes and IOT
VNF Benefits
VNFs can help increase network scalability and agility, while also enabling better use of network resources. Other VNF benefits include the following:
- Decrease in the amount of physical data center space required as VNFs replace physical hardware
- Lower power and cooling requirements
- Long-term reduction of both operating expenditures and capital expenditures
PARADIGM SHIFT
Traditionally relied on purpose-built hardware and software as the foundation for their network infrastructure. Known as physical network functions, or PNFs
VNFs enable these same networking services to operate — but decouple them from proprietary hardware. Instead, the network functions are facilitated on commodity hardware using a software layer to mimic network-specific hardware processing.