F5 Networks has introduced an enhanced network functions virtualization (NFV) offering for services that can be easily and automatically deployed, scaled, managed, and decommissioned as needs evolve.
F5’s new VNF Manager, which is available as part of a preconfigured solution, simplifies consumption of the company’s leading portfolio of VNFs (based on BIG-IP capabilities) that are provisioned in service providers’ SDN environments.
With this new offering, F5 explains, organizations can take advantage of the complete lifecycle management of VNF services, unlocking essential scale and automation for newly virtualized networks without adding 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 GM 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.”
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 layering and programmable chaining to expand network capabilities without sacrificing control. Preconfigured solutions support auto-scaling, dramatically reducing the need for manual intervention.
- 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 will take place at September’s NFV and Carrier SDN: Automation and Monetization event in Denver, Colo.
