Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVi) – Virtual Network Functions (VNF) Interoperability Evaluation

The New IP Agency (NIA), in partnership with EANTC, is please to invite you to participate in a new kind of interoperability evaluation. As part of NIA’s commitment to deliver tangible and objective information about the progress and adaptation of virtualization in the communications industry, EANTC will hold a series of real-world, independently verified evaluation campaigns of Network Functions Virtualization solutions. The NIA’s NFVi-VNF evaluation focuses on interoperability between Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVi) and Virtual Network Functions (VNF).

The goal of this evaluation is to deliver to the communications industry a matrix of interoperable VNF to NFVi combinations and provide service providers with information on various configurations they could use to deploy NFV. Focusing on the runtime environment, we intend to validate the following aspects:

Instantiation and Provisioning
The obvious place to begin interoperability validation is remote instantiation and provisioning of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). Be it with a VNF Manager (VNFM) or using command line interface or scripts, we will verify and document how the VNF is installed and brought to operation on different NFVIs.

Functional Verification
Once the VNF is running we will also verify that it is functioning as expected. The virtual function will be evaluated for functionality only. Such topics as performance, high availability and scalability are considered for later phases.

Operational Functions
In the lifetime of the VNF, various basic functions should be supported in much the same way as with physical incarnation of the function. These include adding and removing interfaces, rebooting the host and assigning more virtual resources to the function. These will be the focus of this area.

Invited
Organizations (vendors and open source projects) developing Virtual Network Functions.

Project Process: VNF Vendors
The NIA and EANTC will publicize the list of NFVis interested in the interoperability evaluation and is happy to welcome any virtual function to the evaluation.

For each virtual function, we plan a week of evaluation. In that week, the VNF will be evaluated against two NFVIs. Evaluation slots will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, taking your requirements and availability into account.

EANTC’s lab is based in Berlin (Central European Time Zone) and we will welcome your technical team to the lab for your evaluation slot. If you would like to evaluate remotely, we could provide remote access to our lab and use collaboration tools to perform the evaluation.

VNF Vendors Are Asked To

• Provide EANTC with VNF software and license
• Assign technical point of contact
• Schedule evaluation session (first-come, first-serve)
• Support the evaluation (on site or remote)

Participation Fees
Each organization will sign a contract and an NDA prior to the start of the evaluation.

Fees
VNF Vendors – One week of evaluation, two NFVIs, one function $9,000

Your Benefits
Since the first public announcement of NIA, during Light Reading’s Big Communications Event in 2015, NIA’s interoperability program has been receiving immense support from Tier 1 service providers such as BT, Colt Technology Services, Deutsche Telekom and more. We envision the following benefits for your participation:

• High visibility with leading service providers
• The New IP Agency and Light Reading marketing exposure
• Objective, independent and fair platform to demonstrate your solution’s availability
• Increases your chance to establish a presence in service providers’ labs.’
• Neutral evaluation facility where all organizations and vendors are welcomed and can demonstrate interoperability
• Standardized evaluation methodologies and deep understanding of customer requirements by the world’s leading independent evaluation lab

How to Participate
The deadline for VNF vendors to sign up for the NIA’s NFVi-VNF Interoperability Evaluation is August 15, 2016. To receive more information on the evaluation and to inquire about how your company may participate, please contact info@newipagency.com.