With NFV, the virtualization layer operating system coordinates the compute, store, and connect resources that are shared among the Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that execute on the same physical host server. The Management and Orchestration (MANO) component orchestrates and administers the VNFs throughout their lifecycles. Most importantly in this age of ever-increasing demand for network bandwidth and services, virtual functions can be deployed when and where needed.

Why are operators and enterprises turning to Liquid Spectrum NFV?

The promise of NFV lies in its ability to simplify the architecture of physical networks. At the same time, NFV improves your ability to scale and adapt to technological change because there is no lock-in to proprietary hardware. You can leverage the efficiencies of scale of commodity servers and the flexibility of software with open interfaces. 

For a telecom service provider, it’s about costs and service innovation. A provider can offer a range of virtual managed services—including routing, in-motion data encryption, and security—with higher margins than traditional network services. Because there is no need to worry about high-cost proprietary hardware, it becomes simpler to update software as functionality evolves or standards change—functionality that is especially useful with encryption and security.

The separation of network functions from dedicated hardware devices results in the consolidation of multiple functions onto physical servers, with well-defined open interfaces to MANO systems. This greatly reduces the need for maintenance, truck rolls, and manual tasks. Instead of rolling a truck or tediously correlating manual actions between disparate vendor systems, your network admins can monitor the network and handle orchestration and administration functions through a ‘single-pane-of-glass’ user interface. You can also easily select and deploy additional virtual functions depending on the current needs of your network. And if conditions shift shortly after you make a change, you can adjust once again without needing a maintenance tech on-site.

If new network functions need to be created or old functions are no longer required, it’s easy to spin up a new virtual machine to handle the new function or spin down one that’s no longer needed.

Blue Planet SDN and NFV are Changing the Game

This is a major shift from the typical way hardware appliances have been deployed across the network to enable managed network services, such as encryption. Now, you can deploy virtualized software functions on any standardized server that is already in the network, provided the underlying hardware has the capacity to support the additional workload.

Why Ciena?

A network operator contemplating a migration to NFV can turn to Ciena for integrated end-to-end management, virtualization, and service-oriented network operations. Ciena is committed to helping network operators realize the vision of a single, open, highly available, agile network. Ciena’s Blue Planet products and services facilitate end-to-end visibility and management across physical and virtual components.

With many successful engagements across regional, national, and global customers, Ciena has clearly demonstrated how SDN and NFV can work for your business. And industry leaders such as CenturyLink, Windstream, Orange, and Colt are proof that Ciena’s Blue Planet is orchestrating and controlling mission-critical services and applications.

Ciena’s Blue Planet is committed to open industry standards that break down vendor silos and enable software-defined, multi-vendor networks. Blue Planet’s unique technologies help you pull SDN, NFV, cloud, and legacy domains into a single unified service orchestration environment that reduces vendor lock-in and simplifies end-to-end service creation, automation, and orchestration.

Customers who turn to Ciena see Blue Planet’s innovation as just the beginning. Big things are on the horizon.