14.3.1 - Cloud Instances

These flashcards cover key terms related to cloud instances and virtualization concepts from the lecture notes.

Virtual Machine (VM)

An instance of a computer or network appliance running an OS and applications software that can be allocated with CPUs, RAM, storage, and network links.

Container

A lightweight computing instance designed to run a single application service or workload task without emulated hardware components.

Virtual Network Function (VNF)

Specifies and deploys instances of each virtual appliance and is designed to run as a VM on standard CPU platforms.

NFV Infrastructure

Controls the allocation of compute resources (CPU and memory), plus storage and networking resources to each VNF.

Management and Orchestration (MANO)

Positions VNFs within workflows to perform their designed forwarding and filtering tasks.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

A cloud computing model where the customer uses the cloud to build solutions, such as video streaming platforms.

Workload

An instance of a task or function, such as streaming video, that requires compute, storage, and network resources.

Virtual Appliance

A software product that emulates the functions of a dedicated hardware appliance or implements similar functionality in a new product.

ETSI's Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)

A standard architecture that divides the provisioning of virtual appliances into three domains for improved automation and orchestration.