Presentation outlining the perspective of F5 Networks on an evolutionary path to Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) for telecom operators. Presentation at Carrier Network Virtualization event in Palo Alto, CA in December 2013.

1. The Path to NFV Nirvana
Mallik Tatipamula
Vice President Product Marketing and Management
December 2013
m.tatipamula@f5.com

2. Agenda
• Charting the course
• Keys to success
• 4 pillars of NFV
• Deployment phases
© F5 Networks, Inc
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3. Charting the Course
Transitioning from a network model to application delivery model
We are here
TV
TV
Telco Cloud
Telco Cloud
TV
Large Capacity Data Centers Hosting IT, Services
Platforms, and Control Functions
Internet Services
(Mail, IM, Portals)
Fiber
ADSL
PSTN
Mobile
Fiber
ADSL
PSTN
Mobile
CONTROL
Converged Application Services Functions
IMS Control
Application Control Functions
WAN
Common IP Transport
Cloudified WAN
ACCESS
Wireless
Overlay Networks
© F5 Networks, Inc
Converged Transport
Wireline
Converged Application Delivery
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4. Keys to NFV Success
Lessons learned from large datacenter migrations to virtualized infrastructure
HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR PRESSING
STRATEGIC EFFORTS?
• Start with architecture planning
• Prioritize phasing order
• Transform operational support
• Streamline vendor portfolio
© F5 Networks, Inc
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5. The 4 pillars of NFV
NFV
Virtualization
• Virtual network functions
(VNFs/VMs)
• Significant multi-tenancy
• High performance
• Comprehensive hypervisor
support
© F5 Networks, Inc
Abstraction
• Service and network
abstraction
• Configuration templates
• On demand resourcing
Programmability
Orchestration
• Data, control &
management planes
• Open and productiondeployed APIs
• Developer-friendly
RESTful APIs
• Large existing developer
community & ecosystem
• Unified multi-vendor,
multi-service ecosystem
• Open and standards
based multivendor
integration
• Policy-driven flows and
steering
5

6. NFV Deployment Phases – F5 perspective
Building an application delivery network that is zero-touch and fully programmable
SGi
Simplification
•
•
•
SGi network service
consolidation
VAS steering
Intelligent service chaining
Control Plane
NFV
SGi NFV
•
•
•
Virtualized SGi service
functions (1 hypervisor)
Dynamic VAS Steering
Intelligent service
orchestration
•
•
•
Virtualized control
functions (1 hypervisor)
Dynamic Control Plane
Steering (e.g. DRA)
Intelligent service
orchestration
RAN & Core
Network NFV
•
•
Virtualized EPC, BNG
Virtualized RAN functions
• Smooth introduction of new services with scale and flexibility
• Intelligent orchestration and management for increased service velocity
• Programmable and application-aware cloud and network convergence
© F5 Networks, Inc
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7. Current state of affairs
DNS Services
Local DNS
Visited PLMN
Authoritative Infrastructure
DNS
DNS
P-PCRF
HSS
Diameter Svcs
MME
Policy and Subscriber Management
OCS
DRA/DEA
PCRF
AAA/HSS
IMS and Non-IMS Control
SBC/SPG
X CSCF
S/Gi Network
Mobile Devices
GGSN/PGW/
ASNGW
L2 Switch
Policy
Enforcement
URL
Filtering
Firewall
CGN
LDNS
PE
IGR
Internet
Services Complex
Key Segments to consider
•
•
•
•
Data Plane elements on S/Gi
Media Plane elements in Services complex
Control/Signaling elements
Mobile Core Network (Access/EPC)
© F5 Networks, Inc
VAS Svcs
Applications
IT
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8. Unify SGi functions and virtualize VAS platform(s)
Simplifies transition to software-based delivery of network services and offers
dynamic delivery of virtualized and elastic VAS services
PGW/
GGSN
Internet
RTR
Unified Platform
VM Management
and Orchestration
Key Considerations
•
•
•
Determine SGi functions to unify
Determine NFV readiness of vendors
Select trusted vendor to partner on POC
© F5 Networks, Inc
Data Center
Transparent
Caching
URL Filtering
Parental
Controls
Video
Optimization
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9. Virtualize SGi functions and VAS platforms
Incorporate intelligent orchestration and application awareness
PGW/
GGSN
RTR
Internet
Virtualized SGi
Svcs Platform
VM Management
and Orchestration
Key Considerations
•
•
•
Determine implementation approach
Define cross-platform requirements
Minimize customer service impact
© F5 Networks, Inc
Data Center
Transparent
Caching
URL Filtering
Parental
Controls
Video
Optimization
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10. Virtualize control plane functions
Make discrete control functions more elastic, dynamic, and highly utilized
Control Plane
DNS
PCRF
Diameter
Signaling
IMS (SBC/CSCF)
AAA/HSS
VM Management
and Orchestration
PGW/
GGSN
RTR
Virtualized SGi
Svcs Platform
Internet
Key Considerations
•
•
•
Determine implementation approach
Define cross-platform requirements
Minimize customer service impact
© F5 Networks, Inc
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11. Virtualize Access and Core Network Elements
Mobile Core
GERAN
UTRAN
SEC GW
Virtualized Network
Svcs Platform
EUTRAN
Internet
Fixed Core
FIXED
Key Considerations
•
•
•
Determine implementation approach
Define cross-platform requirements
Minimize customer service impact
© F5 Networks, Inc
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12. Benefits of NFV migration
Future-proof your
investments…
Meet explosive
growth …
Gain L7 visibility
and control…
Implement dynamic,
multi-layered security…
Significantly lower
your cost structure…
… with flexible and
adaptive platforms
… with extensible
performance and
scalability
… for intelligent traffic
steering and policy
enforcement
… for the highest
availability and
reliability
… with a simplified &
dynamic network
architecture
© F5 Networks, Inc
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