Virtual network function

As explained in Google Anthos in Action

A virtual network function (VNF) is a telecommunications network function implemented as software running on virtualized computing infrastructure.

A virtual network function (VNF) implements a telecommunications network function as software inside a virtual machine on virtualized, industry-standard infrastructure. NFV separates the design into VNFs, network function virtualized infrastructure (NFVI), and management and orchestration (MANO): workloads, hosting hardware and virtualization software, and lifecycle management. section 8.1.1

Figure 8.1 High-level NFV architecture framework

Use the high-level NFV architecture to distinguish the virtualized function from its infrastructure and lifecycle-management domains. section 8.1.1

Common VNF deployments move established network appliances into provider-controlled infrastructure:

• vCPE virtualizes customer-premises routing and network functions, allowing simpler hardware at homes or enterprise sites. section 8.1.2
• vPE virtualizes provider-edge routers, while vEPC virtualizes mobile-core functions such as mobility management, serving gateway, and packet data network gateway. section 8.1.2
• vCDN virtualizes content-delivery appliances; vRAN was considered for radio access networks but increasingly points toward containerized network functions (CNFs). section 8.1.2

VNFs remain relevant alongside CNFs during the transition toward Kubernetes and Anthos. Anthos on bare metal supports VM-based workloads through Anthos VM Runtime, based on KubeVirt. High-performance deployments can use SR-IOV for direct virtual-function access to network hardware and DPDK for accelerated networking. Multiple network interfaces support workloads that connect separate network segments. section 8.3.2 section 8.4

Running a VNF-oriented VM on Anthos

Enable the VMRuntime custom resource, choose hardware virtualization or emulation, and create a VM with specified image, CPU, memory, disk, storage class, and cloud-init settings. Anthos VM Runtime then provides the VM deployment path within the bare-metal cluster. section 8.3.2

How Google Anthos in Action covers it

How deep it goes

Explains NFV domains, representative use cases, VM deployment, and accelerated networking, but defers complete lifecycle implementation.

Examples

Uses vCPE, vPE, vEPC, vCDN, vRAN, and Anthos VM Runtime as deployment examples.

What you can do after

Operate VNF-oriented virtual machines on Anthos bare metal and select direct or accelerated networking where required.

How it connects

Connects VNFs with NFVI, MANO, CNFs, Kubernetes, Anthos, KubeVirt, SR-IOV, and DPDK.

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Related concepts

• virtual machinekind of · A virtual machine is a software-based environment that emulates or implements an abstract computer system, providing an interface on which an operating system or programs can execute.
• Google Distributed Cloud Edgeused by · Google Distributed Cloud Edge is a fully managed Google solution that delivers hardware, operating systems, and software for telco network functions and edge applications at customer locations.
• cloud-native network functionalternative to · A cloud-native network function (CNF) is a telecommunications network function designed to run as modular, containerized software on cloud-native infrastructure.

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Google Anthos in Action. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.