Isolated Physical Networks for Network Function Virtualization

1 . A method comprising:

with a Virtual Network Function (VNF) component associated with a VNF, communicating with an access network over a first physical network connected to a first physical network interface of a physical machine associated with the VNF component; and

with the VNF component, communicating with a core network over a second physical network connected to a second physical network interface of the physical machine, the second physical network being isolated from the first physical network.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the core network is a private network controlled and managed by a service provider.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the core network includes equipment and functionality to provide a telecommunication service to subscribers.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access network is a public network that is used to connect subscribers to a service provider.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the VNF acts as a session border controller (SBC) between the access network and the core network.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein to provide full network function virtualization, a plurality of VNFs work together to provide desired services.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of VNFs is managed by an orchestrator.

8 . A system comprising:

a first physical network interface comprising a first physical cable;

a second physical network interface comprising a second physical cable distinct from the first physical cable and electrically separated therefrom;

a processor; and

a memory comprising machine readable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

(a) run a Virtual Network Function (VNF) component of a VNF in a cloud computing environment;

(b) communicate with an access network, using the VNF component, over the first physical network via the first physical cable; and

(c) communicate with a core network, using the VNF component, over the second physical network via the second physical cable.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a hypervisor that presents virtual machines for use by guest operating systems.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the virtual machines the hypervisor presents are virtual machines configured for by guest operating systems that run applications related to the VNF.

11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a central management component configured to make decisions as to where network traffic should be sent and configured to then direct underlying systems to route the network traffic.

12 . A system comprising:

a plurality of physical computing systems, each of the physical computing systems comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a memory;

(c) a first physical network interface comprising a first cable; and

(d) a second physical network interface comprising a second cable physically isolated from the first cable;

(e) a first network connected to the first physical network interface for each of the physical computing systems, the first network being connected to an access network; and

(f) a second network connected to the second physical network interface for each of the physical computing systems, the second network being connected to a core network;

wherein each of the physical computing systems is configured to run a Virtual Network Function (VNF) component of a VNF.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a VNF component associated with bearer traffic is placed directly on a physical computing system of the plurality of physical computing systems.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the bearer traffic comprises voice or video.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a physical computing system, of the plurality of physical computing systems, running a VNF component associated with Internet Protocol (IP) based telecommunication services, further comprises a hardware accelerator.