Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is a framework designed to virtualize network services traditionally run on proprietary hardware. NFV aims to reduce costs, improve scalability, and increase flexibility by decoupling network functions from dedicated hardware appliances. Let’s analyze each statement:
A. It implements virtualized tunnel endpoints.
Incorrect:While NFV can support virtualized tunnel endpoints (e.g., VXLAN gateways), this is not a defining characteristic of the NFV framework. Tunneling protocols are typically associated with SDN or overlay networks rather than NFV itself.
B. It decouples the network software from the hardware.
Correct:One of the primary goals of NFV is to separate network functions (e.g., firewalls, load balancers, routers) from proprietary hardware. Instead, these functions are implemented as software running on standard servers or virtual machines.
C. It implements virtualized network functions.
Correct:NFV replaces traditional hardware-based network appliances with virtualized network functions (VNFs). Examples include virtual firewalls, virtual routers, and virtual load balancers. These VNFs run on commodity hardware and are managed through orchestration platforms.
D. It decouples the network control plane from the forwarding plane.
Incorrect:Decoupling the control plane from the forwarding plane is a characteristic of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), not NFV. While NFV and SDN are complementary technologies, they serve different purposes. NFV focuses on virtualizing network functions, while SDN focuses on programmable network control.
JNCIA Cloud References:
The JNCIA-Cloud certification covers NFV as part of its discussion on cloud architectures and virtualization. NFV is particularly relevant in modern cloud environments because it enables flexible and scalable deployment of network services without reliance on specialized hardware.
For example, Juniper Contrail integrates with NFV frameworks to deploy and manage VNFs, enabling service providers to deliver network services efficiently and cost-effectively.
[Reference:, ETSI NFV Framework Documentation, Juniper JNCIA-Cloud Study Guide: Network Functions Virtualization, , ]