Today at its global Agility conference, F5 Networks introduced an enhanced network functions virtualization (NFV)
offering for services that are easily and automatically deployed,
scaled, managed, and decommissioned as service needs evolve. Available
as part of a preconfigured, prepackaged solution, F5's new VNF Manager
simplifies consumption of F5's leading portfolio of VNFs (based on BIG-IP capabilities) that are provisioned in service providers' software-defined networking environments.
With
F5, organizations can take advantage of the complete lifecycle
management of VNF services, unlocking essential scale and automation for
newly virtualized networks without burdensome complexity. This approach
is an ideal fit for mobile operators and service providers looking to
software-based infrastructures as part of their network evolution. F5
also supports customers' existing orchestration solutions for
streamlined integration via open and extensible APIs.
"Service
provider organizations have plenty of options when it comes to
virtualizing elements of their network, but what they haven't had
previously is a package that delivers consumption-based pricing that can
be tied directly to business outcomes," said James Feger, VP and
General Manager of F5's Service Provider business. "Beyond just VNFs and
basic service management, F5's new offering provides a preconfigured
solution that gives customers push-button ease-of-use for capacity
thresholds, along with service programmability and orchestration
capabilities for specialized requirements."
Unlike
competitors, F5 offers right-sized solutions that are simple to
purchase, deploy, manage, and upgrade in a "pay as you grow" model with
subscription and perpetual licensing options. To help maximize
utilization, resources can be automated and tailored for current
initiatives, empowering customers to create, spin up, spin down, and add
capacity to F5 VNF services immediately and automatically-all through
the integrated F5 VNF Manager.
Additional key solution benefits include:
- Superior Business Agility -
Service providers can introduce differentiated services with flexible
VNF service layering and programmable service chaining to expand network
capabilities without sacrificing control. Preconfigured solutions
support auto-scaling, dramatically reducing the need for manual
intervention (and the associated potential for errors).
- Simplified Operations -
Network planning, sizing, and deployments can be accelerated with F5's
capacity-based consumption models and automation features, maximizing
operational flexibility around elements such as the mobile core and
virtual edge. In addition, the solution enables portable VNFs that can
be easily moved as needed throughout the network.
- Significant Cost-Savings -
F5's automated, capacity-based NFV capabilities reduce the risk (and
expense) of both underutilization and overprovisioning. This approach
can also successfully limit the spend tied to testing, along with pre-
and post-deployment lifecycle management.
Demonstrations of F5's integrated VNF capabilities are available in person at F5's Agility conference, taking place this week in Boston, Mass., as well as September's NFV and Carrier SDN: Automation and Monetization event in Denver, Colo.
Availability
F5's
current portfolio of VNFs (based on BIG-IP capabilities) will continue
to expand, with VNF solutions focused on Gi LAN Traffic Management and
Gi Firewall generally available in September 2018, along with F5's VNF
Manager. Additional offerings focused on 3GPP-aligned functions are also
anticipated and will be announced as applicable.