Telecommunication

What is NFVO NFV Orchestrator

Admin

— 3 min read


Deep Dive into NFVO: Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator

Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) is a central component in the realm of NFV (Network Function Virtualization). Imagine it as the conductor of an orchestra, coordinating all the virtualized network functions (VNFs) deployed on the underlying NFVI (Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure). Here's a technical breakdown of NFVO:

Core Responsibilities:

The NFVO acts as a comprehensive management and orchestration entity, handling various tasks throughout the VNF lifecycle and network service operation:

  • VNF Lifecycle Management: The NFVO oversees the entire life cycle of VNFs, including:
    • Deployment: It initiates VNF deployment on suitable NFVI resources, configuring and activating them based on service requirements.
    • Monitoring: The NFVO continuously monitors VNF health and performance, collecting data on resource utilization, errors, and performance metrics.
    • Scaling: The NFVO can dynamically scale VNFs based on network traffic demands. It can allocate more resources to a VNF experiencing high traffic or remove resources from an underutilized one.
    • Termination: The NFVO handles VNF termination when no longer needed, including deallocation of resources and proper shutdown procedures.
  • Service Orchestration: NFVO goes beyond individual VNF management. It orchestrates the deployment and management of entire network services. This may involve chaining multiple VNFs together in a specific order to deliver a complex service (e.g., firewalling, load balancing, intrusion detection).
  • Resource Management: The NFVO interacts with the VIM (Virtual Infrastructure Manager) component of the NFV MANO stack. It requests resources from the VIM based on the needs of VNFs and network services, ensuring efficient resource allocation on the underlying NFVI.
  • Policy Management: The NFVO enforces network service policies, guaranteeing VNFs operate within defined parameters and meet service level agreements (SLAs).

Technical Aspects of NFVO Functionality:

  • Standardized Interfaces: NFVO utilizes open APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to communicate with various components in the NFV ecosystem. This includes communication with VNFs themselves, the VIM, and external systems for service provisioning or monitoring.
  • Workflow Automation: The NFVO leverages workflow automation to streamline VNF lifecycle management and service orchestration tasks. Predefined workflows can be triggered based on specific events or service requests.
  • Data Analytics: The NFVO collects data from various sources, including VNF performance metrics, resource utilization data, and network traffic patterns. This data can be analyzed to optimize VNF placement, resource allocation, and overall network performance.

Benefits of an NFVO:

  • Simplified VNF Management: Centralized VNF lifecycle management through the NFVO reduces administrative overhead and simplifies network operations.
  • Improved Agility: Dynamic VNF lifecycle management and service orchestration enable rapid deployment, scaling, and modification of network services to meet changing demands.
  • Automated Operations: Workflow automation facilitates faster and more efficient network service provisioning and management.
  • Enhanced Visibility: The NFVO provides a comprehensive view of VNF health, performance, and overall network service status.

Challenges of NFVO Implementation:

  • Complexity: Managing and orchestrating complex network services with multiple VNFs can be challenging.
  • Standardization: NFVO is a relatively new technology, and standards for its functionalities are still evolving. This can lead to interoperability issues between NFVOs and other components from different vendors.
  • Security Considerations: Orchestrating VNFs across the network introduces new security challenges. The NFVO itself needs to be secure to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation of network services.

Future of NFVO:

As NFV matures, we can expect advancements in NFVO functionalities:

  • Machine Learning and AI: Integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) will enable the NFVO to make intelligent decisions about VNF placement, resource allocation, and service optimization.
  • Intent-based Networking: NFVOs will evolve to support intent-based networking, where network operators express service intent (e.g., desired performance, security), and the NFVO automatically provisions and configures the network to meet those goals.
  • Multi-Cloud Orchestration: NFVOs will be able to manage VNFs deployed across multiple cloud environments (private, public, hybrid), providing greater flexibility and scalability for network services.

In conclusion, the NFVO plays a critical role in the NFV ecosystem. By managing and orchestrating VNFs and network services efficiently, the NFVO empowers network operators to unlock the full potential of NFV, leading to agile, scalable, and cost-effective networks.

Read more