{{Short description|Type of computing virtualisation}} {{Technical|date=August 2020}} A '''cloud-native network function''' ('''CNF''') is a software-implementation of a function, or application, traditionally performed on a physical device, but which runs inside [[Linux containers]] (typically orchestrated by [[Kubernetes]]).<ref>{{Citation|title=cloud-native-principles/cloud-native-principles|date=2020-07-21|url=https://github.com/cloud-native-principles/cloud-native-principles|publisher=cloud-native-principles|access-date=2020-07-22}}</ref> The features that differ CNFs from VNFs ('''virtualized network functions'''), one of the components of [[network function virtualization]], is the approach in their orchestration.
In ETSI NFV standards, the cloud-native network functions are a particular type of virtualized network functions<ref>{{Cite web|title=NFV FAQ|url=https://nfvwiki.etsi.org/index.php?title=NFV_FAQ|access-date=2022-04-27|website=nfvwiki.etsi.org|language=en}}</ref> and are orchestrated as VNFs, i.e. using the ETSI NFV MANO architecture and technology-agnostic descriptors (e.g. TOSCA, YANG). In that case, the upper layers of the ETSI NFV MANO architecture (i.e. the NFVO and VNFM) cooperate with a container infrastructure service management (CISM) function<ref>{{Cite web|title=ETSI GS NFV-IFA 040|url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV-IFA/001_099/040/04.03.01_60/gs_nfv-ifa040v040301p.pdf|access-date=2022-07-20|website=www.etsi.org|language=en}}</ref> that is typically implemented using cloud-native orchestration solutions (e.g. Kubernetes).
The characteristics of cloud-native network functions are:<ref name="AutoR9-4">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Cloud-Native Network Functions|url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/service-provider/industry/cable/cloud-native-network-functions.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Cisco}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=cncf/cnf-testbed|date=2020-07-20|url=https://github.com/cncf/cnf-testbed|publisher=Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)|access-date=2020-07-22}}</ref>
* '''containerized [[microservices]]''' that communicate with each-other via standardized [[RESTful API]]s * '''small performance footprint''', with the ability to scale [[Scalability#HORIZONTAL-SCALING|horizontally]] * independence of [[guest operating system]], since CNFs operate as containers * lifecycle manageable by [[Kubernetes]], using container images registries such as OCI [[Docker (software)|Docker]], and OS container runtime.
== Relation to network function virtualization == These characteristics address many of the common issues found with the first generation of [[Network function virtualization|VNF]]s, by incorporating many of the innovations deployed commonly in the internet infrastructure. These include auto-scaling, supporting a [[continuous delivery]]/[[DevOps]] deployment model, and efficiency gains by sharing common services across platforms. Through [[service discovery]] and orchestration, a system based on CNFs will be more resilient to node failure.<ref name="AutoR9-4" /> A specification of criteria to classify and characterize cloud-native VNF implementations can be found in ETSI GS NFV-EVE 011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ETSI GS NFV-EVE 011|url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gs/NFV-EVE/001_099/011/03.01.01_60/gs_nfv-eve011v030101p.pdf|access-date=2022-04-27|website=www.etsi.org|language=en}}</ref>
== Cloud Native Computing Foundation == The [[Linux Foundation]] backed [[Cloud Native Computing Foundation]] project is actively supporting companies in contributing to open-source projects like [[Kubernetes]] or [[Prometheus (software)|Prometheus]], upon which Cloud Native Network Functions can be based on.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FAQ|url=https://www.cncf.io/about/faq/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Cloud Native Computing Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref> The CNCF project also created a CNF Testbed, in order to facilitate a common test-ground for various cloud-native network functions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=cncf|date=2019-02-25|title=CNCF Launches Cloud Native Network Functions (CNF) Testbed|url=https://www.cncf.io/announcement/2019/02/25/cncf-launches-cloud-native-network-functions-cnf-testbed/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Cloud Native Computing Foundation|language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == <references />11. Cloud Native Computing Foundation, (http://www.cncf.io) [[Category:Cloud infrastructure]] [[Category:Network topology]] [[Category:Virtualization software]]