When new terms and buzzwords are introduced to the industry, it’s understandable to be confused. There is hype, more hype, and then many different definitions as the terms get bandied about. It happens all the time. Right now, the hype is rising around software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV). Both technologies are about to play a critical role in the next generation of telecommunications, data center and enterprise networking. However, both the definitions and scope of SDN and NFV are still evolving.
Adding to the confusion, the benefits of NFV and SDN are similar: cost efficiency, flexibility, ease of scalability and quicker service introduction. The terms NFV and SDN are originating from two different sides of the communications world. The NFV terminology comes from the telco world, while SDN is from the IT domain. Part of the problem is that, so far, service providers haven’t seen much in the way of direct vendor positioning for NFV, despite the fact that many analysts and experts predict that it will likely have more of an impact on the network equipment market (NEM) than SDN will.
Why are NFV and SDN even possible? First of all, the capability of processors has finally reached a point where network functions can be deployed on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. Multi-core, virtualization and hypervisor technology enable multiple functions to occur on the same processor. Secondly, IP networks have enabled easier connectivity to network nodes and connectivity to network nodes that have been disaggregated, all at the speeds required. This allows separation of the control plane and data plane, for instance, enabling SDN in the first place, or separation of the application from the media server, and possibly separation of different parts of the media server.
Let’s cut through all the vagueness and figure out how to differentiate between the two. NFV is an initiative of the ETSI Industry Specification Group, with the mission to virtualize network functions typically performed by hardware. The goal behind NFV is to reduce the cost of networking functions that were performed by devices such as routers, firewalls and security appliances by allowing them all to run on a common platform that hosts the necessary environments.
NFV reduces network operator CAPEX and OPEX through reduced equipment costs and reduced power consumption. NFV is about transitioning network functions to software-only, COTS hardware with multiple network functions capable of running in a single chassis. The benefit of a software-based network function would enable a cloud-based solution as well.
Meanwhile, SDN is about control plane and data plane separation, making networks more efficient by taking concepts from the IT world. SDN also implies a cloud-based delivery model.
Is there a clash of technologies between IT and telco when it comes to NFV and SDN? My opinion is, NFV is a step on the way to SDN. They co-exist and they complement. They do not compete.
What do you think? Which technology has more relevance in your environment: NFV or SDN?
