Network function virtualization for a network device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising:
- a memory;
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following;
receive an instruction from a network administrator to virtualize a network device within a network according to one of a plurality of available decomposition methods selected by the network administrator, wherein the network device is a provider edge (PE) router configured to route data packets;
divide, according to the instruction, the network device into a plurality of network function units (NFs) used to form a virtualized network node that corresponds to the network device, wherein at least one of the NFs within the apparatus is used for routing the data packets;
launch the NFs within one or more virtual containers;
group the virtual containers together using a group identifier (ID) that corresponds to the virtualized network node;
install one or more commodity switches to provide the virtualized network node with additional port capacity; and
a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the data packets to non-virtualized devices across a core network following processing of the data packets within the one or more virtual containers.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising: a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following: receive an instruction to virtualize a network device within a network, divide, according to the instruction, the network device into a plurality of network functions (NFs) used to form a virtualized network node that corresponds to the network device, launch the NFs within one or more virtual containers, and group the virtual containers together using a group identifier (ID) that corresponds to the virtualized network node, wherein each of the NFs correspond to a network function performed by the network device prior to virtualization.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising:
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a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following; receive an instruction from a network administrator to virtualize a network device within a network according to one of a plurality of available decomposition methods selected by the network administrator, wherein the network device is a provider edge (PE) router configured to route data packets; divide, according to the instruction, the network device into a plurality of network function units (NFs) used to form a virtualized network node that corresponds to the network device, wherein at least one of the NFs within the apparatus is used for routing the data packets; launch the NFs within one or more virtual containers; group the virtual containers together using a group identifier (ID) that corresponds to the virtualized network node; install one or more commodity switches to provide the virtualized network node with additional port capacity; and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the data packets to non-virtualized devices across a core network following processing of the data packets within the one or more virtual containers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising:
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a memory; a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to perform the following; receive an instruction from a network administrator identifying one of a plurality of available decomposition methods selected by the network administrator; create, in response to the instruction received from the network administrator, a plurality of network function units (NFs) that correspond to a plurality of network functions performed by a non-virtualized network device within a network, wherein the non-virtualized network device is a provider edge (PE) router configured to route data packets and at least one of the NFs within the apparatus is used for routing the data packets; load the NFs within one or more virtual containers; group the virtual containers together using a group identifier (ID) that identifies the network functions performed by the non-virtualized network device; monitor resource utilization for each of the virtual containers; adjust resource allocation according to the resource utilization of each of the virtual containers; install one or more commodity switches to provide additional data path ports; and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the data packets to non-virtualized devices across a core network following processing of the data packets within the one or more virtual containers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for performing network function virtualization (NFV), comprising:
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receiving an instruction from a network administrator to virtualize a provider edge (PE) device configured to route data packets and participating within a network, wherein the instruction identifies one of a plurality of available decomposition methods selected by the network administrator; splitting the PE device into a plurality of network function units (NFs), wherein each of the NFs are used to perform a PE network function, wherein at least one of the NFs within the PE device is used for routing the data packets; grouping the NFs based on the instruction into one or more NF groups; placing each of the NF groups into a virtual container; installing one or more switches to provide additional input and output (I/O) ports for transmission of the data packets; and forwarding, using a transmitter, a plurality of the data packets to non-virtualized devices across a core network following processing of the data packets within the virtual containers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification