SDN and NFV Simplified: A Visual Guide to Understanding Software Defined Networks and Network Function Virtualization

13. What About Scalability and Performance?

Scalability and performance are two key metrics when considering the effectiveness of a virtualized network, and therefore designers must understand and test for them. Very often, virtualization is deployed to reap these supposed benefits, but is done so without any real concern for these two key issues. (It’s often just assumed.) Scalability should be a positive attribute in virtualization, as should performance. However, there are times when instead of complementing one another, they are in open conflict. In fact, there are times when virtualization might not be a good idea.

Scalability Versus Performance

Let’s consider a scenario in which an administrator and a network planner want to shift toward ...