Network Function Virtualization for Telecom Engineers

Network functions virtualization (NFV) is a network architecture concept that uses IT virtualization technologies to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that can be connected or chained to create and deliver communication services.

This course is intended for students who wish to gain a thorough understanding of the NFV architecture, its development phases, and its relationship to SDN and Cloud Technology. The various components (MANO, NFVI, and VNFs) are described along with their interaction, and use cases are examined to complete the picture. As networking in a world of virtual machines can be challenging for virtualization novices, special attention is paid to this topic.

Network Functions Virtualization course starts with a discussion of the benefits and motivation of NFV and overview of NFV architecture, NVF components, NFV requirements and implementation challenges, and enablers provided by 5G, LTE and IMS network functions. You will also learn how Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies and NFV can be integrated. Network Functions Virtualization allows decoupling of critical network functions such as such as NAT, DHCP, DNS, firewall, IDS from proprietary hardware appliances. These critical functions are able to run in software only and simplifies networking components and leads to a fully virtualized infrastructure. This is applicable to data plane processing or control plane function in both wired and wireless network infrastructures.