Cloud-native network function
A Cloud-Native Network Function (CNF) is a software-implementation of a network function, which runs inside a Kubernetes container and replaces a network function, 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
- Small performance footprint
- Agnostic to host environments
- Manageable by Kubernetes, Docker, or any container runtime
The Linux Foundation backed Cloud Native Computing Foundation project[6] is actively supporting companies in developing open-source projects like Kubernetes or Prometheus, upon which Cloud Native Network Functions can be based on. 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
- ^ "What is a CNF?". Ligato.io.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "What is a CNF?". CDNF.io.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ cloud-native-principles/cloud-native-principles, cloud-native-principles, 2020-07-21, retrieved 2020-07-22
- ^ "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.