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YANFF - Yet Another Network Function Framework

YANFF - Yet Another Network Function Framework is a packet processing framework built on Intel Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) for implementing software-based network functions on Intel architecture.

  • Framework for constructing packet processing pipelines and network functions in software (network function virtualization).
  • Built on Intel DPDK for user-space, poll-mode, high-throughput packet I/O on Intel architecture (data plane acceleration).
  • Provides abstractions for flows, packet handling graphs, and load distribution across cores (packet processing framework).
  • Targets use cases such as firewalls, load balancers, and other L3–L7 network services implemented in software (virtual network functions).
  • Implements APIs and runtime components to manage packet reception, transmission, classification, and processing stages (network data plane framework).

More About YANFF - Yet Another Network Function Framework

YANFF - Yet Another Network Function Framework is a software framework that supports implementation of network functions and packet processing pipelines on general-purpose Intel architecture servers using Intel DPDK. It operates in the context of network function virtualization (NFV), where functions traditionally implemented in hardware devices are moved into software running on standard servers.

The framework builds on DPDK (data plane acceleration) to access network interface cards in user space with poll-mode drivers, which helps avoid kernel networking overhead and supports high-throughput packet I/O. By using DPDK as its foundation, YANFF aligns with Intel’s approach to Software Defined Networking (SDN) and high-performance packet processing on Intel Xeon and related platforms.

YANFF provides abstractions for flows and packet processing graphs (packet processing framework). Developers define how packets should be classified, modified, or routed through a pipeline of stages, and the framework maps these definitions onto available Central Processing Unit (CPU) cores and queues. Typical capabilities include receiving and transmitting packets, basic classification and filtering, and dispatching traffic to different processing paths based on header fields or application logic.

Within enterprise and service provider environments (virtual network functions), YANFF is relevant for constructing software-based firewalls, load balancers, traffic monitoring functions, or other L3–L7 services that benefit from user-space packet I/O. It supports NFV-style deployments in which multiple network services run on shared x86 infrastructure, integrated with broader SDN or orchestration systems that manage placement and lifecycle, while YANFF focuses on the local data plane behavior.

Architecturally, the framework belongs in the network data plane and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) framework categories. It is associated with Intel DPDK (data plane acceleration) and Intel architecture optimizations, and it is intended to be interoperable with standard Ethernet network interfaces supported by DPDK. Extensibility derives from the ability to plug in custom packet handlers and to combine multiple functions into a single processing graph.

For enterprise stakeholders, YANFF positions as a framework for building custom or specialized network functions when off-the-shelf virtual appliances do not match requirements. It is relevant to categories such as virtual network functions, network function frameworks, packet processing libraries, and NFV infrastructure software that leverages Intel DPDK and general-purpose Intel architecture servers.