
Virtualization and Cloud executives share their predictions for 2015. Read them in this VMblog.com series exclusive.
Contributed article by Prabhu Ramachandran, Director, WebNMS
NFV Services Rely on Multi-Vendor “Last API” Solutions
In 2015, service provider interest in network function virtualization
(NFV) will increase dramatically, but the technology's success hinges on its
ability to integrate with the provider's strategic assets, including installed
physical networks and operational support systems (OSS) infrastructure.
Integration requires solving the "last API" challenge, an issue analogous to
the "last mile" in carrier access.
Most of the telecommunication industry is familiar with the
"last mile" challenge - how to economically give access to the value of new edge
and core technologies over the existing wires that actually reach the customer.
Wholesale replacement of these wires is often prohibitively expensive. This
challenge has driven many innovative solutions, mostly based on advanced
digital signal processing hardware that squeezes more bandwidth from the local
loop, coaxial cable or radio waves.
Similarly, virtual services like NFV rely on existing
infrastructure that touches the customer. In this case, it is also highly
unlikely that a forklift upgrade of the physical network or entire OSS will be
feasible. This isn't a physical problem, but instead a management software
integration challenge with the final leg being the "last API."
Take, for example, the virtual customer premise equipment
(vCPE) use case. The provider has installed residential or business CPE
equipment, perhaps delivering services on a shared network. To increase
revenue, the provider wants to bundle value-added NFV services such as
security. The existing devices often have sufficient configurability to provide
access to a chain of these services. However, service providers almost always
deploy multiple CPE devices from multiple vendors across multiple generations.
Each type of device may have a different "last API." In this case, that API
might be a CLI, SNMP, TL1 or NETCONF. The provider will also need to coordinate
operations with their existing OSS and BSS, expanding the API matrix to include
CORBA and SOAP. NFV elements themselves might use RESTful management APIs or virtual
instances of existing APIs. To configure these devices and systems to work with
NFV services requires an extensive API solutions library, hopefully with
field-proven reliability.
To integrate NFV, providers will avoid the trap of deploying
NFV services as yet another management silo. Existing silos already constitute
a major challenge to achieving cloud-like orchestration and efficiency in
provider networks. An NFV silo would exacerbate this competitiveness issue and
postpone the promised benefits of NFV in resource elasticity and operational
efficiency.
Instead, virtualization-savvy providers will unify NFV under
their existing or renovated service management systems. To achieve unification,
these systems will extend their reach across the end-to-end physical network
through the "last API" of each network element and interoperate with various
OSS.
As more use cases for NFV emerge in 2015, we expect
providers will strongly desire, if not require, these capabilities to remain
competitive and increase revenue. NFV integration will be one motivation for
network management unification projects throughout the year. These projects
will combine innovations in orchestration with trusted network management APIs
to create a dynamic and reliable network.
##
About the Author
With over 14 years of experience delivering service
provider software solutions, Prabhu Ramachandran directs WebNMS, the service provider division of Zoho Corporation. Prabhu leads strategic
marketing, product management, customer support, partnerships and professional
services for WebNMS. Leveraging the technology of the corporation's flagship
WebNMS Framework, Prabhu has expanded the business from its longstanding
leadership position in multi-vendor network and element management software
into vertical solutions for Carrier Ethernet, MPLS, broadband, LTE and satellite
networks. In 2012, Prabhu began driving WebNMS into network orchestration, SDN,
NFV and IoT/M2M platforms, all critical enablers for service providers to grow
profitable businesses. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electronics and Communication
from Madras University, Chennai, India.
For more information about WebNMS, please visit http://www.webnms.com.