VMware vCloud NFV provides a 5G-ready NFV infrastructure platform (NFVI) optimized for the rapid deployment of next-generation services with low latency and high network throughput, and support for a wide range of massively deployed devices and endpoints. VMware vCloud NFV enables CSPs to create an end-to-end, software-based network architecture to deliver consistent, pervasive connectivity and intrinsic security to network applications and functions wherever they reside—globally, from the core to the cloud to the edge—regardless of location or underlying physical infrastructure.
Key advancements in the latest vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0 release include:
• Accelerated NFV Performance: VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack will include support for VMware NSX-T Data Center, which brings Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)-based techniques that deliver accelerated network data plane performance and significantly increase CPU efficiency, while maintaining all the benefits of VMware's NFV infrastructure. VMware's advanced network architecture, delivered through new high-performance switching, enhanced platform awareness, and a more secure multi-tenant environment, will be transparent to VNF vendors and provides kernel-based security, deterministic resource allocation, linear scalability, and consistent multi-stream performance. Beta testing of the new NSX Managed Virtual Distributed Switch in Enhanced Data Path mode by customers such as NTT Com, Telia Company, and Telefónica has demonstrated three to five times better performance, depending on size.
• Carrier-grade networking: VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0 provides a suite of new carrier-oriented networking capabilities by including NSX-T Data Center and enabling CSPs to extend Virtual Cloud Network. The platform offers enhanced network resilience through rapid link failure detection and support for bare-metal edge network design with enhanced performance, policy management, and security. Network slicing with micro-segmentation gives CSPs the flexibility to allocate quality of service, security, availability, and other policies across a virtual network slice that can be provisioned to support different segments of the organization. Native support for the Container Networking Interface (CNI) enables advanced network design and security for microservices and container-based workloads. Multi-cloud network design and security allow IT departments to gain operational control and visibility across heterogeneous environments, ranging from data centers and public and telecom clouds to decentralized environments.
• Intent-based network service assurance: VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0 introduces a new paradigm in NFV operations with intent-based assurance, enabling CSPs to define operational and organizational intents for the network and continuously verify performance by comparing it to the intent defined in Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2 operations. New capabilities include service and operations integration, capacity planning, forecasting and recovery, isolation and advanced incident resolution, and dynamic performance optimization.
Open standards support:
VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0 incorporates VMware Integrated OpenStack 5-Carrier Edition, one of the first commercial OpenStack distributions to comply with the OpenStack Foundation 2018.02 interoperability guidelines. As an active member of the OpenStack community, VMware packages, tests, and supports all major distribution components, including OpenStack open source, in a multi-cloud architecture. VMware is a Platinum member and founder of the Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) project and leads the ONAP Multi-Cloud project. VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack is fully supported and integrated with the ONAP Beijing architecture. VMware is a key contributor to the Open Source Mano Technical Steering Committee (OSM). VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack supports integration with the OSM 4 architecture.
The VMware vCloud NFV 3.0 package will be available in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, which ends on August 3, 2018.
1-The Total Cost of Ownership Advantages of VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack in the Virtualized Packet Core of Mobile Networks: An Economic Analysis, ACG Research, March, 2018
