Cloud-Native Network Function and Kubernetes Part 1 — Introduction
Introduction to Cloud-Native Network Function (CNF)
For the past decade, we have witnessed the proliferation of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) such as virtualized edge routers and 4G EPC mobile gateways running on x86 servers instead of custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or network processor based hardware platforms. The advance in high-speed multi-core CPU technology, and open-source virtualization software such as KVM enable network vendors to “bolt” up multiple multi-core x86 servers and Ethernet switches as the backplane to offer flexible, resilience and cost-effective sub-terabit networking platforms for VNFs.
With this kind of cost-effective and flexible virtualized x86 CPU-based networking platform for sub-terabit networking devices such as the edge routers and the wireless gateways, the hardware-based networking platforms using ASICs and network processors are now reserved for the multi-terabits networking devices such as the Core routers at the Internet Exchanges and large carrier networks.
A VNF typically comprises one or more Virtual Machines (VMs) each with its own operating system (i.e., guest OS) running on top of a Hypervisor such as KVM or VMWare. While we can place the VNFs to run on Clouds with orchestration…
