AUSTIN, TX: GigaSpaces, a provider of computer software services and solutions, is offering an online NFV Lab which provides on-demand access to a learning lab configured with a private OpenStack environment, TOSCA-based orchestration (Cloudify) and the Clearwater open source vIMS virtualized network function.

The NFV lab enables users to gain access, begin learning about NFV environments and develop their first virtualized network functions (VNF) orchestration free of charge in the NFV Lab. The NFV Lab is developed and operated by GigaSpaces.

As the demand for networks increases, telecoms are seeking for ways to deploy wide scale services and at cost efficient manner.  Network Functions Virtualization, is one such way to achieve this. But even experienced network engineers find it challenging to set up an environment to learn about NFV and the deployment of VNFs as it istime consuming, expensive and technically challenging.

GigaSpaces enables cloud network architects, telecom professionals and solutions architects interested in knowing about managing and maintaining of NFV environments, gain a deep, technical understanding of how NFV works while simplifying NFV orchestration. With the NFV Lab users are provided with a fully operational environment. This set-up includes a fully functional OpenStack environment on demand with the orchestration and vIMS Clearwater VNF already installed and integrated.

The users of the NFV Lab receive training from GigaSpaces and online training sessions on the use of Clearwater, Cloudify and OpenStack environment. The users are also provided with feedback and suggestions by the GigaSpaces engineers who monitor their work. The users are also taught how to build TOSCA blueprints to develop their own VNFs.

VNF orchestration in the Lab is provided by Cloudify, an open source, TOSCA-based cloud orchestration platform that automates installation, deployment and post-deployment, including monitoring, remediation and auto-scaling of VNFs or an application stack. The NFV Lab uses the Ravello platform for virtualization of testing environments.

“We talk to customers more and more frequently who want to learn about NFV, but the logistics, complexity and cost are big barriers,” says Nati Shalom, CTO of GigaSpaces. “We built the NFV Lab to answer that request. A network architect can now go online, and in minutes they have a virtual environment pre-integrated with all the pieces they need. We’ve removed the critical blocker for advancing NFV at operators of large networks.”