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Basically, virtual network functions (VNFs) are software applications that deliver network functions such as directory services, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and more. They are deployed as virtual machines (VMs) and have often been the next step for telecommunications providers in their digital transformation from the physical network functions (PNFs) of legacy network appliances on proprietary hardware. As an evolution from VNFs, cloud-native network functions (CNFs) are designed and implemented to run inside containers. This containerization of network architecture components makes it possible to run a variety of services on the same cluster and more easily on-board already decomposed applications, while dynamically directing network traffic to the correct pods. |
IEEE/ICACT20230145 Slide.06
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