Intelligent distribution of virtual network function images

1. A method for orchestrating image distribution in a network, comprising:

receiving an image for a Virtual Network Function (VNF); deploying the image to a storage location that is selected based on at least: metadata for the image, and a location of a Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM);

tracking the storage location of the image; and notifying the VIM of the storage location for the image, wherein the VIM retrieves the image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF; and

wherein the image metadata is used to validate placement of the VNF in the storage location, wherein the storage location is accessible by the VIM, and wherein the validation is performed by a placement engine that compares compute requirements in a Virtual Deployment Unit (VDU) for the VNF with compute capabilities at a cloud identified in a Network Service Descriptor (NSD).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an upgraded image for the VNF; and

deploying the upgraded image to the tracked storage location, wherein the VIM retrieves the updated image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage location is a content library associated with the VIM.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image metadata indicates edge deployment, and wherein the storage location is selected based on proximity to an edge node of the network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a threshold amount of time has passed since the VNF deployment of the image has not been used to instantiate the VNF for a threshold period of time; and

sending a message to the VIM to delete the image.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the VIM is identified as a closest of multiple VIMs to a location identified in the image metadata, and wherein deploying includes sending the image to the VIM for placement at the storage location.

7. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a hardware-based processor, performs stages for orchestrating image distribution in a network, the stages comprising:

receiving an image for a Virtual Network Function (VNF);

deploying the image to a storage location that is selected based on at least: metadata for the image, and a location of a Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM);

tracking the storage location of the image; and

notifying the VIM of the storage location for the image, wherein the VIM retrieves the image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF; and

wherein the image metadata is used to validate placement of the VNF in the storaqe location, wherein the storaqe location is accessible by the VIM, and wherein the validation is performed by a placement engine that compares compute requirements in a Virtual Deployment Unit for the VNF with compute capabilities at a cloud identified in a Network Service Descriptor (NSD).

8. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , the stages further comprising:

receiving an upgraded image for the VNF; and

deploying the upgraded image to the tracked storage location, wherein the VIM retrieves the updated image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the storage location is a content library associated with the VIM.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the image metadata indicates edge deployment, and wherein the storage location is selected based on proximity to an edge node of the network.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , the stages further comprising:

determining the image has not been used to instantiate the VNF for a threshold period of time; and

sending a message to the VIM to delete the image.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the VIM is identified as a closest of multiple VIMs to a location identified in the image metadata, and wherein deploying includes sending the image to the VIM for placement at the storage location.

13. A system for orchestrating image distribution in a network, comprising:

a memory storage including a non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions; and

a computing device including a hardware-based processor that executes the instructions to carry out stages comprising:

receiving an image for a Virtual Network Function (VNF);

deploying the image to a storage location that is selected based on at least: metadata for the image, and a location of a Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM); tracking the storage location of the image; and

notifying the VIM of the storage location for the image, wherein the VIM retrieves the image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF; and

wherein the image metadata is used to validate placement of the VNF in the storage location, wherein the storage location is accessible by the VIM, and wherein the validation is performed by a placement engine that compares compute requirements in a Virtual Deployment Unit (VDU) for the VNF with compute capabilities at a cloud identified in a Network Service Descriptor (NSD).

14. The system of claim 13 , the stages further comprising:

receiving an upgraded image for the VNF; and

deploying the upgraded image to the tracked storage location, wherein the VIM retrieves the updated image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the storage location is a content library associated with the VIM.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the image metadata indicates edge deployment, and wherein the storage location is selected based on proximity to an edge node of the network.

17. The system of claim 13 , the stages further comprising:

determining the image has not been used to instantiate the VNF for a threshold period of time; and

sending a message to the VIM to delete the image.