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What is NFVI Network Function Virtualisation Infrastructure

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Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) Explained in Detail

Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) is the foundation that enables Network Function Virtualization (NFV) to function. It provides the essential physical and virtual resources required to deploy and operate Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). Here's a deeper dive into the technical aspects of NFVI:

Core Components:

NFVI can be broken down into several key components:

  • Compute Resources: This refers to the processing power needed to run VNFs. Typically, industry-standard servers with x86 architecture are used. These servers should be capable of high performance, virtualization support, and efficient resource utilization.
  • Storage Resources: A combination of storage technologies is used to store VNFs, virtual machine images, and network data. This may include high-performance storage area networks (SANs) for frequently accessed data and network-attached storage (NAS) for less frequently used information.
  • Network Resources: A high-performance networking infrastructure is crucial for efficient communication between VNFs and other network components. This includes high-bandwidth, low-latency network switches and routers with capabilities to handle the specific traffic patterns generated by VNFs.
  • Virtualization Platform: Software like hypervisors (e.g., KVM, VMware ESXi) is used to create and manage virtual machines (VMs) that host VNFs. The virtualization platform provides isolation between VNFs and ensures efficient resource allocation.

Additional Considerations:

  • Security: Security is paramount in NFVI. Measures like network segmentation, firewalls, and access control mechanisms are essential to protect VNFs and network data from unauthorized access and cyberattacks.
  • Management and Orchestration: NFVI interacts with the NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) stack. The Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM) component of MANO interacts with NFVI to provision and manage the underlying compute, storage, and network resources for VNF deployment.

Benefits of a Robust NFVI:

  • Scalability: NFVI should be scalable to accommodate changing network demands. It should allow for easy addition or removal of compute, storage, and network resources as needed.
  • Performance: NFVI must deliver high performance to ensure that VNFs can meet network service level agreements (SLAs) for latency, throughput, and jitter.
  • Reliability: High availability and fault tolerance are critical for NFVI. Redundancy in hardware components and robust disaster recovery plans are essential to maintain continuous network operation.

NFVI vs. Traditional Network Infrastructure:

Traditional network infrastructure relies on dedicated hardware appliances for network functions. NFVI, on the other hand, utilizes shared resources and virtualized environments, offering several advantages:

  • Cost-efficiency: NFVI eliminates the need for multiple dedicated hardware appliances, potentially reducing capital expenditure (CapEx) and operational expenditure (OpEx).
  • Agility: VNFs can be rapidly deployed, scaled, and migrated on NFVI, enabling faster network service provisioning and adaptation to changing demands.
  • Flexibility: NFVI provides a vendor-neutral platform, allowing for the use of VNFs from different vendors on the same infrastructure.

Future of NFVI:

As NFV continues to evolve, NFVI will need to adapt and improve in several areas:

  • Automation: Increased automation of resource provisioning, VNF deployment, and lifecycle management will further enhance efficiency and agility.
  • Standardization: Ongoing efforts to define and refine NFVI standards will ensure interoperability and simplify multi-vendor deployments.
  • Integration with Cloud Technologies: NFVI is expected to become more tightly integrated with cloud computing principles, enabling on-demand infrastructure provisioning and management for VNFs.

In conclusion, NFVI serves as the bedrock for NFV deployments. By providing a scalable, performant, and secure infrastructure, NFVI empowers network operators to leverage the benefits of virtualized network functions and build agile, adaptable, and cost-effective networks.

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