9/5/2020 Virtualization Functions (NFVI, VNF)

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Virtualization Functions (NFVI, VNF) Course Contents

CCNP ENCOR 350-401

Lesson Contents
 Unit 1: Switching
1. Virtual Network Function (VNF)  Unit 2: Routing
2. ETSI NFV Architectural Framework  Unit 3: Wireless
2.1. NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)  Unit 4: Multicast
2.2. Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs)
 Unit 5: Network Architecture
2.3. NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO)
 Unit 6: Services
2.4. Operations and Billing Support System (OSS/BSS)
 Unit 7: Network Assurance
3. Cisco NFVI
 Unit 8: Security
4. Conclusion
 Unit 9: Automation

 Unit 10: Virtualization

A network function (NF) is a function that is performed by a physical appliance like a
 10.1: SDN
router, switch, rewall, load balancer, IDS, WAN optimizer, etc. Most vendors have
 10.2: Virtualization Technologies
proprietary solutions in which hardware and software are tightly coupled. Cisco is a good
example. They sell their routers and switches as appliances. You need the hardware and Cloud Deployment Models

software. You cannot run Cisco IOS (o cially) without the hardware and you can’t run Containers and Virtual Machines
(VM)
anything else besides Cisco IOS on a router or switch.
Virtualization Functions (NFVI,
VNF)

Introduction to Cloud Computing

Cisco Switch Virtualization

EIGRP Over the Top (OTP)

 Unit 11: Practice Exam

07:59

In this lesson, you will learn about virtual network functions and the ETSI NFV
architectural framework.

1. Virtual Network Function (VNF)

Nowadays, we can also use virtual solutions. A virtual network function (VNF) is the
virtual version of a hardware device’s network function. VNFs are available as virtual
machines or containers.

Here are examples of Cisco VNFs:

vEdge Cloud
CSR1000v
ASAV

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Cloud Services Platform (CSP) 2100

XRv 9000
Firepower NGFWv
Web Security Virtual Appliance (WSAv)
Email Security Virtual Appliance (ESAv)
Advanced Malware Protection Virtual (AMPv)

The advantages of VNFs are similar to server virtualization and cloud computing. We
have a shorter time to market (TTM) because, without the hardware requirement, we
can quickly launch a new network function as a virtual machine or container.

We can scale up or down, in or out, on-demand. Since we don’t need physical

appliances, we require less physical space and less power consumption. This results in a
reduced operator capital expenditure (CAPEX) and reduced operational
expenditure (OPEX).

2. ETSI NFV Architectural Framework

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) created the Network
Functions Virtualization (NFV) framework which describes standards to decouple
network functions from proprietary hardware appliances and instead, run them in
software on standard hardware.

Vendors o er VNFs and service providers choose the VNFs that they need. If we want to
run VNFs from di erent vendors on a single open platform, we need a standard that
describes how to manage, monitor, and con gure our VNFs.

The framework also describes how to manage and orchestrate VNFs. Here is a picture of
the framework:

There are four components:

Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs)

Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI)
NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO)
Operations and Billing Support System (OSS/BSS)

Let’s walk through all of these components.

2.1. NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)

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NFV infrastructure (NFVI) is all the hardware and software we need to create a platform
where we can run VNFs on. Many VNFs are available as virtual machines, so this is where
we nd our physical servers, storage, networking, and the virtualization layer
(hypervisors).

2.2. Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs)

This component is where we nd our VNFs. The Element Manager (EM) is responsible
for network management of one or more VNFs. The EM can also be a VNF.

2.3. NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO)

The NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) component has three items:

NFV Orchestrator (NFVO): the orchestrator launches, maintains, and scales VNFs.
The orchestrator also validates and authorizes resource requests from the NFVI
component.
VNF Manager (VNFM): the VNFM performs life-cycle management (launch,
maintain, and teardown) of VNFs.
Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM): the VIM manages and controls the
hardware and virtualization resources in the NFVI. It collects performance metrics,
fault information, and also performs life-cycle management of all NFVI resources.

The VIM is also responsible for VNF service chaining. Server chaining means we chain
multiple VNFs together to create a service or solution. Here is an example:

The CSR1000v router and ASAv are two VNFs we chain together to create a single
solution. We might use the router for DMVPN and the ASAv for our rewall rules.

2.4. Operations and Billing Support System

(OSS/BSS)
The Operational and Billing Support System (OSS/BSS) component has the
Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Billing Support Systems (BSS). The OSS
supports management functions like network inventory, management, and
con guration. The BSS deals with customer management and includes systems for
taking orders, payments, etc.

The acronyms OSS and BSS are often used interchangeably or abbreviated as OSS/BSS.

3. Cisco NFVI
Cisco has an NFVI solution called Cisco NFVI and is based on the ETSI NFV framework.
NFVI uses a combination of Cisco products and Red Hat (RHOL) OpenStack. Here is an
overview:

NFVI
Hardware
Compute: UCS servers
Storage: UCS Storage Servers
Network: Nexus switches
Virtual
Compute: RHEL KVM
Storage: RHEL CEPH

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Network: OVS, VRF, SR-IOV

VNFs
All Cisco VNFs we discussed in the VNF section of this lesson.
Third party VNFs
MANO
NFVO
Cisco NSO
VNFM
Cisco ESC
VIM
RHEL OSP
Cisco VIM Life-cycle Manager
Cisco ACI
Cisco VTS

With the Cisco NFVI solution, you can use Cisco products or third-party products. This
applies to both the VNFs and other components like the VNF manager or VIM.

4. Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned what network functions (NF) and virtual network functions
(VNF) are. We also discussed the ETSI NFV architectural framework that was created to
standardize a platform to run VNFs from di erent vendors on generic shared hardware.
You learned about all the components of the NFV framework, and we talked about the
Cisco NFVI solution.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson, if you have any questions, please leave a comment.

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 Tags: Cloud

Forum Replies

lagapides

Hello Umesh

The NFVI as a framework has several components. These components can be separated into two categories: hardware and virtual. Among the hardware
components are the Nexus series devices. Nexus devices essentially provide the physical connection to the virtualized NFVI environment. Looking at the
diagram below, the nexus switches would fall under the “Hardware Network” component at the bottom right.

https://cdn-forum.networklessons.com/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5cdf1d42f6ec6f3a089176765fba 8bdc508522.png

This might sound philosophical, but I b... Continue reading in our forum

umesh_m15

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9/5/2020 Virtualization Functions (NFVI, VNF)

Hello Laz,
Thanks for clari cation.

lagapides

Hello Hussein

I have been unable to nd any info about this speci c statement, and the strange thing is that I cannot nd anyone stating anything about it in the Cisco
forums either. However, my feeling is that it has to do with VM orchestration, dealing with Layer 4 to Layer 7 services, similar to what is contained in the
following Cisco documentation.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/aci/apic/sw/4-x/L4-L7-services/Cisco-APIC-Layer-4-to-Layer-7-Services-Deployment-Guide-
411/Cisco-APIC-Layer-4-to-Layer-7-Services-Deployment-Guide-40

... Continue reading in our forum

ReneMolenaar

Hi Hussein,

I also did some research, trying to nd a connection with either NFVI, VNF, or cloud. To be honest, I have no idea. NFVI/VNFs are about L2-L7, same with
cloud. I can’t think of anything. I’d say that virtualization starts at L3 (routers) and NFVI/VNF goes up to L7.

Nothing I can think of that sits in between L4-L6.

Rene

hussien.samer

Thank you both @ReneMolenaar & @lagapides

I think Cisco not mean OSI layers model in this sentence instead they are meaning virtualization layers, also when I make a little search about that I found
something interesting and it’s very related to virtualization function which is what this post about, in short virtualization layer mean at which level we can
mange physical hardware resources for example host (Hypervisor) level, guest OS level, or program level (High-level language virtual machines), and so
on, I revert this info from this wiki :-
http://en.dwhwik

... Continue reading in our forum

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