Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV); Ecosystem; Report on SDN Usage in NFV Architectural Framework

The present document identifies the most common design patterns for using SDN in an NFV architectural framework. It also identifies potential recommendations to be fulfilled by the entities that perform the integration.
 
ETSI ISG NFV has defined an NFV architectural framework operating on the basis of the principle of separating network functions from the hardware they run on by using virtual hardware abstraction. The major components in this framework are (From ETSI GS NFV 002):

• Network Functions Virtualisation Infrastructure (NFVI): subsystem which encompasses Compute, Network and Storage resources, i.e. the totality of all hardware and software components that build up the environment in which VNFs are deployed.
• Management and Orchestration (MANO): subsystem which includes the Network Functions Virtualisation Orchestrator (NFVO), the Virtualised Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM).
• Virtual Network Functions (VNFs): deployed in the NFVI.

The present document provides an overview of SDN in relation to this ETSI NFV architectural framework as well as a summary of current industry work including a comparison of network controllers and PoCs including NFV and SDN.