The potential to onboard virtual network functions (VNFs), the basic components of network virtualization, is being supported by an increasing number of networking specialists, as shown by a spate of recent announcements.

Huawei rolled out its Cloud Native VNF solution, while VMware released VMware vCloud NFV 2.0, the newest generation of its NFV platform that combines NFVi, virtual infrastructure managers, VNFs and NFV orchestration. (See Huawei's NFV Solution Awarded Best Technology Enabler at MWC 2017 and VMware Makes Major MWC Splash.)

Likewise, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Red Hat Inc. (NYSE: RHT) are collaborating so that Red Hat can use HPE's OpenNFV Labs for VNF validation, and Red hat OpenStack Platform customers can access HPE's VNF Onboarding services. (See HPE, Red Hat Team on Storage, OpenStack for NFV.)

As these NFV trends continue, the need for testing and monitoring NFVi platforms and VNFs will be paramount. There are a number of such solutions listed in Testapedia, including:

More than 700 companies and products are now listed in Testapedia, making it the telecom industry's most comprehensive resource for all things related to testing and measurement. Some 2,400 test and measurement professionals also are now registered with Testapedia, giving them access not only to vendor and product information but also to the latest industry news and research from Heavy Reading.

To get your company listed in Testapedia, go to the Get Listed tab on the site. To join the growing ranks of the virtualization community and get access to executive summaries of Heavy Reading's research, go to the Register Now tab.

— Denise Culver, Director of Online Research, Heavy Reading

CALLING ALL TEST, ASSURANCE AND MONITORING COMPANIES:
Make sure your company and services are listed free of charge at Testapedia, the comprehensive set of searchable databases covering the companies, products, industry organizations and people that are directly involved in defining and shaping the telecom test and measurement industry.