Network Functions Virtualization Overview

Network Functions
Virtualization (NFV) is a set of architectural standards to leverage enterprise and
cloud technologies for virtualization and lifecycle resource automation in
telecommunications core networks. It is focused on identifying the use cases and needs
of communications service providers for automated, virtualized infrastructure and
network functions, along with an architecture to frame discussions on meeting those
needs, and an analysis of the gaps with existing technologies. Standards defining the
NFV architecture addressed in this document include “ETSI GS NFV 002 Architectural
Framework”, ETSI GS NFV 004 “Virtualization Requirements” and related. Oracle can
provide its OCSBC and OCSR, as well as other network systems, as Virtual Network
Functions (VNFs) or Management Systems for operation within an NFV-enabled
environment.

One of the main drivers for NFV is capital equipment cost reduction for
CSPs. Virtual functions running on fewer COTS servers is much cheaper than using
multiple purpose built appliances. NFV meets the needs for cost reduction in addition to
allowing the CSP to turn up new services and capacity more rapidly.

It is generally recognized now that operators desire to move their core
network functions into automated and virtualized environments based on these
technologies, starting with large operators in North America, Europe, and Asia. To
accomplish this requires changes in the infrastructure that hosts the network functions,
changes in the network functions, and additions to the management and automation of the
life cycle of network services.

In the NFV Industry Specification Group under ETSI, which is where the bulk
of industry focus on defining the use cases and architecture for NFV have been, an
architectural framework, shown below, has been defined that is the basis for most
discussions of the various functional components needed for an NFV environment. These
components are divided into the Hardware, the VNFs and the virtualization layer.
Commodity hardware provides the physical components for computing, and are the same as
those without virtualization. The virtualization layer provides the means through which
virtual machines can operate. The VNFs are the virtual machines themselves, instantiated
as Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). These components establish a VNF deployment that
can be fully operational, but without orchestration.

Extending upon these basic operational components are the Management and
Orchestration components (MANO) components. MANO provides a means by which operators
approach a zero-touch orchestration, operation and management deployment. The resulting
automated, elastic construct more fully addresses the OPEX efficiencies and real-time
responsiveness desired from NFV.

To complete the NFV picture, MANO components are included in the diagram
below, consisting of the orchestration layer and VIM components associated with managing
your NFV. This diagram also adds the northbound OSS/BSS systems. The orchestration layer
supports NFV instantiating and de-commissioning based on operational requirements and
status, as well as on business requirements and preferences. The MANO model also
provides for basic FCAPS management, encapsulating those management functions outside of
orchestration.

Network operators establish criteria for automated VNF instantiation within
the orchestration layer, by configuring the overall system to use external and internal
status within KPIs to define the triggers for changes to VNF resources. VNFs themselves
provide critical status information that, when combined with organizational policy and
other status triggers, the MANO uses to adjust network resources to network requirements
in real time.

Oracle’s NFV solution harnesses the extensive assets from its portfolio to deliver
a vision of a network orchestration being driven by a business orchestration, which in
turn delivers business value to the customer. This vision builds on the investment that
Oracle Communications has made in the BSS/OSS domain to deliver a BSS/OSS that is
orchestrated along business processes. The Oracle Communication Network Service
Orchestrator bridges Network Orchestration and Business Orchestration.

Oracle’s NFV solution builds on the investment Oracle has made in the
network domain to have an extensive portfolio of Network Functions as well as network
orchestration.