NFV Automation and Performance Validation for Network Services

This white paper discusses the role of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) in automating and validating performance for network services and labs. It outlines how NFV is transforming the delivery of network services, enabling carriers to provide new offerings more rapidly. The document emphasizes the importance of lab automation in achieving these goals and differentiates NFV automation from traditional methods. It highlights the recommendations from the ETSI ISG NFV regarding management and orchestration (MANO) and the modular architecture that simplifies network operations. The paper also addresses the challenges carriers face in adopting NFV, particularly regarding proprietary hardware and vendor lock-in. It presents the advantages of using open-source components, such as OpenVIM, in lab automation and discusses the architecture needed for effective NFV implementation. The conclusion reiterates the necessity of adapting to new paradigms in test solutions to meet the evolving demands of network services.