NFVI

NFVI, or Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure, is the combination of physical resources (compute, storage, networking) and the virtualization layer that provides the runtime environment for Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). It forms the infrastructure layer of the NFV architectural framework defined by ETSI and is distinct from the VNFs themselves and the management and orchestration (MANO) layer.

Components include compute resources such as conventional servers and memory, storage options like SAN/NAS or SSDs, and networking elements including switches and NICs. The virtualization technology layer—consisting of hypervisors such as KVM, VMware ESXi, or container runtimes—along with associated software for resource abstraction, pooling, and isolation, enables multiple VNFs to share hardware safely and efficiently.

Key functions of NFVI are resource pooling, life-cycle management of infrastructure, tenant isolation, and support for scaling and elasticity. Performance considerations often involve techniques such as SR-IOV, DPDK, and other offloads to meet the low latency and high throughput demands of network functions.

Relationship to other NFV components: VNFs run on NFVI, while the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) administers NFVI resources. NFVI is a core element of the MANO (Management and Orchestration) framework, which also includes the NFV Orchestrator and VNFM (VNF Manager) to coordinate service provisioning and lifecycle.

Deployment models include centralized data centers and edge locations, where NFVI provides a cloud-like environment for telco workloads. Standards and governance are led by ETSI NFV ISG, with implementations ranging from open-source platforms to vendor-specific solutions.