Cloud-Native Network Function
![]() | This article may be too technical for most readers to understand.(August 2020) |
A Cloud-Native Network Function (CNF) is a software-implementation of a network function, which runs inside a linux container (typically Kubernetes), which would traditionally be performed by a physical device.[1][2][3] Cloud-Native Network Functions are a successor to Virtualized Network Functions, one of the components of Network Function Virtualization. The characteristics of Cloud-Native Functions are:[4][5]
- Containerized micro-services that communicate with each-other via standardized RESTful APIs
- Small performance footprint, with the ability to scale horizontally
- Independence of guest operating system, since CNFs operate as containers
- Manageable by Kubernetes, Docker, or any container runtime
Network Function Virtualization[]
These characteristics address many of the common issues found with VNFs, by incorporating many of the innovations deployed commonly in the internet infrastructure. These include auto-scaling,[2] supporting a continuous delivery/DevOps deployment model, and efficiency gains by sharing common services across platforms. Through service discovery and orchestration, a system based on CNFs will be more resilient to node failure.[2][4]
Cloud Native Computing Foundation[]
The Linux Foundation backed Cloud Native Computing Foundation project is actively supporting companies in contributing to open-source projects like Kubernetes or Prometheus, upon which Cloud Native Network Functions can be based on.[6] The CNCF project also created a CNF Testbed, in order to facilitate a common test-ground for various cloud-native network functions.[7] Custom Cloud-Native Network Functions are developed by several companies, such as Cisco, Ericsson, or Red Hat.[8]
References[]
- ^ "Cloud Native Network Functions (CNF)". Ligato.io.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c "What is a CNF?". CDNF.io.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ cloud-native-principles/cloud-native-principles, cloud-native-principles, 2020-07-21, retrieved 2020-07-22
- ^ a b "Cloud-Native Network Functions". Cisco.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ cncf/cnf-testbed, Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), 2020-07-20, retrieved 2020-07-22
- ^ "FAQ". Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ cncf (2019-02-25). "CNCF Launches Cloud Native Network Functions (CNF) Testbed". Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- ^ "Running cloud-native network functions with confidence on Red Hat OpenShift". www.redhat.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- Cloud infrastructure
- Network topology
- Virtualization software