Dell Network Functions Virtualization

Dell Network Functions Virtualization is the virtualization platform of network functions.

On October 28, 2014 the Dell company provided the family of the solutions NFV and starting sets combining hardware and the software of Dell with the software of partners, participants of an open ecosystem, and distribution kits of software products open source.

Purpose of new products - to accelerate transition to the concept of NFV - from pilot implementations before commercial operation. The solutions NFV will help telecom operators to cut down maintenance costs of infrastructure on the basis of which the current services are rendered and also to simplify and accelerate start of the innovation services. It is reached using virtualization of infrastructure of telecommunication and mobile services using standard open computing and network platforms in combination with the commercial software of infrastructure level, level of management, orchestration and service.

As a part of the Dell NFV platform the latest servers, arrays, switches and the software of Dell in combination with software products of participants of an open ecosystem. She allows to create the complete virtualized infrastructure capable to perform virtual network functions (Virtual Network Function — VNF).

The platform also includes the basic software and open interfaces for management and the orchestration (Management and Orchestration — MANO) that allows to simplify functioning and integration. The Dell NFV platform can be unrolled and used in any operator environment, in any scale.

Advantages

• Openness and full compliance to standards. The Dell NFV platform is constructed on the basis of the Dell PowerEdge servers with the latest Intel processors XeonTM E5-2600v3 in combination with open network platforms and a set of open network interfaces. It provides the maximum compatibility, controllability and protection of investments.

The solutions NFV are even more often unrolled based on the standard servers released by large parties. The Dell NFV platform is created taking into account this trend and represents the suitable solution for implementation of the concept of NFV integrating the newest developments of Intel in the field of server technology for network infrastructure.

• Expansion in any direction. The Dell NFV platform is easily scaled vertically or horizontally that allows to start services of the different plan and to create autonomous nodes as for points of presence of the operators who are not serviced by technicians and the central offices or to create a full-scale environment for large DPC. She allows to create environments based on the Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) standard, cooling systems external Fresh-Air air and building container block solutions.

• Open innovation ecosystem. The Dell NFV platform offers a stack with the wide choice of the software supplementing software solutions of Dell for infrastructure and management. The announcement of the platform expands the interaction of Dell with Red Hat company directed to joint development of the solutions NFV and SDN on the basis of OpenStack intended especially for telecom industry.

• Open ecosystem of partners. Dell makes all efforts for development of an open ecosystem of partners and invites the new companies to become its full-fledged participants. Cooperation affects:
  • formation directly Dell NFV platform;
  • complete functional implementation of MANO;
  • support of other distribution kits based on Linux and OpenStack, including Ubuntu OpenStack and Wind River, for the purpose of adaptation of the Dell NFV platform to deployment of virtual network functions;

Starting sets of Dell NFV Platform Starter Kits

Dell prepared starting sets of Dell NFV Platform Starter Kits for the customers wishing to see operability of the innovation concept and to make pilot implementation. In comparison with full commercial implementations of Dell NFV they differ in smaller scale and allow to begin transition to the new concept. For October 28, 2014 the company offers two options of starting sets. The first of them is based on the new computing PowerEdge R630 1RU nodes, the second — on Dell M1000e blade chassis about PowerEdge M630 blade servers.

As a part of sets:

• the open Dell Networking S6000 10/40GbE platform for Layer 2 and Layer 3 and also OpenFlow;

• Dell OpenDaylight-compatible software Active Fabric Manager and Dell Active Fabric Controller;

• Management systems of Dell Foglight and Dell OpenManage Network Manager;

• several distribution kits Linux and OpenStack at choice;

• options for acceleration of data exchange and/or formation of services.

Each starting set contains the specification of the equipment, the tested reference architecture and configurations and also support of products. Customers, developers and partners receive the economic and easily expanded environment for assessment of opportunities of delivery of services based on NFV.