NFV – Network Functions Virtualization

NFV is the term given to the process of virtualizing the capabilities of a network element which would traditionally be a physical piece of hardware. As such, the network element runs as a software process which draws upon compute, storage and network resources from the NFVI (NFV Infrastructure). With this approach, many different network devices which would traditionally require their own compute, storage and network resource can be virtualized, ultimately sharing the same NFVI and hence saving costs associated with CAPEX and OPEX. Key elements of NFV include the VNF (Virtualized Network Function), NFVI and MANO (Management and Orchestration).