VNFM

Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) is a component of the NFV (network function virtualization) management and orchestration (MANO) framework. Its primary purpose is the lifecycle management of virtual network functions (VNFs), coordinating their instantiation, configuration, updating, scaling, healing, and termination on virtualized infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include interpreting VNF descriptors (VNFDs) and network service descriptors (NSDs) to deploy VNFs according to defined requirements, policies, and SLAs. The VNFM handles VNF configuration, state tracking, and fault management, and it collaborates with the underlying infrastructure to allocate and release virtual resources (compute, storage, and networking). It can perform automatic or policy-driven scaling and rolling updates, and it supports recovery actions in response to failures or degraded performance.

In typical NFV architecture, the VNFM operates alongside the VIM (Virtualized Infrastructure Manager) and the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO). The VNFM coordinates with the VIM to reserve and manage resources and with the NFVO to align VNF lifecycle events with higher-level service orchestration. This coordination may be realized through standardized interfaces and reference points defined by the ETSI NFV ISG, sometimes labeled as Or-Vnfm and Vi-Vnfm, among others, depending on the specific implementation.

VNFM deployments can be centralized or distributed, and implementations vary in scale and integration with cloud platforms or on-premises data centers. The VNFM is a foundational element for automating and stabilizing the operation of VNFs in telecom, enterprise, and other NFV-based networks.