The promise of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is to help provide a wide-range of benefits from lower operating costs to faster time-to-revenue to reduced errors. However, all of these depend on a core assumption: that the provisioning of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) can be automated through straightforward management and configuration processes. In theory, this is not controversial. In practice, it can still be elusive. Network Element Providers (NEPs) need to leverage NETCONF and YANG to introduce a more standardized application programming interface (API) into their network elements, and unlock the value of full NFV automation.
Much of the discussion of VNF management today focuses on onboarding— getting VNFs booted and spun up in their initial configured state, placed in the right location, connected to the right physical and virtual networks, ensuring that they have the appropriate resources and licenses.
This whitepaper provides an overview of the complexities of “Day 1” configuration management and automation in virtualized environments for NEPs. You will learn about the unique management challenges that NFV poses and what are the newer approaches to account for these challenges, and the need to shift from network management to “network programmability” in today’s virtualized world.
