VMware has boosted its network functions virtualisation (NFV) offerings, by announcing the general availability of vCloud NFV, that it calls a unified, multi-function, multi-vendor platform.
Announced at VMWorld 2015 Europe in Barcelona today, VMware says NFV aims to reverse the trend of margin erosion driven by the high cost of infrastructure and lack of service differentiation.
According to Bill Fathers, executive vice president and general manager, Cloud Services Business Unit, VMware: "Two primary models of NFV deployment have emerged, one based on custom software stacks and the other based on a common virtualisation platform."
VMware vCloud NFV brings together the core virtualisation and management components needed to speed up NFV deployment, he explains. "It also allows VMware vCloud NFV communications services providers (CSPs) to deploy a unified, multi-vendor and multi-function NFV platform that supports any application at all stages of cloud evolution."
In addition, said Fathers, the platform supports over 40 virtual network functions from 30 different virtualised network functions (VNF) vendors, more than any other solution available today. "vCloud NFV also lets IT leverage current skills and operational experience with VMware virtualisation, providing a quicker and more seamless implementation and ongoing management of telco clouds."
VMware vCloud NFV includes several components, including vSphere, the company's virtualisation solution that delivers high performance, scale and availability for mobility and fixed line services in the cloud and VMware Virtual SAN, which is fully integrated into the VMware stack to support the most demanding mobile core and IMS functions.
"Virtual SAN delivers better performance than a virtual appliance or external device for supporting the storage requirements of network functions and services," says Fathers.
In addition, it features VMware NSX, a network virtualisation platform that provides critical L2/L3 networking features in software to help CSPs realise the benefits of server virtualisation for the entire data centre / central office construct.
He says it also provides flexible options for virtual infrastructure management (VIM) through VMware vCloud Director-SP and VMware Integrated OpenStack. "VMware vCloud Director addresses NFV needs through new self-service provisioning capabilities, vApp enhancements and tenant throttling. VMware Integrated OpenStack is Kilo-based, and includes load-balancing as a service (LBaaS), Ceilometer and Heat Auto Scaling to make VMware-based OpenStack clouds more scalable, performant and resilient."
Finally, the platform offers CSPs fully integrated and unified operations tools to deliver ongoing service assurance for multi-tenant network functions.
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