What is network virtualization

Challenges

How will network virtualization impact service providers?

Perhaps the biggest challenge, when dealing with network virtualization, is the fact that it’s... well, virtual. By its very nature, the network is no longer physically tangible and, therefore, not something easily visualized by humans.

How do you find problems in a virtual network that’s constantly changing? How do you know that scaling a service won’t break the network? How do you measure service performance when you can’t be sure how it’s being routed?

Having a clear picture of the performance of the ever-changing network and services is critical to successfully managing this transformation.

Solutions

How does network virtualization help service providers?

CAPEX reduction was once considered the primary driver for the move to virtualization. However, many carriers are discovering this is not actually the case. The real benefits come from OPEX savings, infrastructure and service elasticity and agility.

Faced with a shrinking workforce and key skills deficit, virtual networks allow carriers to leverage automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence and big data to drive cost out of their operations and reduce the need for a highly skilled workforce.

Does your network have what it needs to deliver a superior customer experience without breaking the bank?

Solutions

The virtualized network promises to completely change the way networks are built, operated and maintained. They are software based, leverage SDN and NFV, and are highly scalable, service-agile networks that encourage open platform development with best-in-breed functionality. However, the fact they are virtual means managing them effectively will require new tools and processes that leverage automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence to address their increased complexity and dynamic nature. EXFO brings you the experience and solutions to enable greater network insight.

Network and service topology discovery

The virtual network is an invisible network. It’s a connected set of software functions residing in COTS hardware located in data centers and customer locations. Furthermore, it is an ever-changing network that scales up or down depending on demand and is continuously optimizing itself to address service and network issues. Keeping track of network and service topology has never been an easy task, but in the virtual network, it’s even more challenging.

Many operations functions require detailed knowledge of network and service topologies, and an updated view of the active inventory, to run effectively. Everything from provisioning to troubleshooting requires a real-time view of the state of the network.

Real-time, automated topology mapping provides this critical solution by continually tracing the live topology to track changes as they happen. And for a network that will rely heavily on automation to drive operations efficiency, having an accurate, up-to-date view of the topology and inventory will be critical for activities like fault correlation or capacity reservation.

EXFO has the analytics and topology discovery tools you need to see into the invisible network.

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