Virtualized Infrastructure Manager

A Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) is a software component in network function virtualization architectures that controls, manages, and monitors the allocation and lifecycle of virtual resources such as compute, storage, and networking.

Expanded Explanation

1. Technical Function and Core Characteristics

A VIM manages virtualized compute, storage, and network resources on top of physical infrastructure. It performs functions such as resource discovery, allocation, reservation, lifecycle management, and performance monitoring for virtual machines and virtual network functions.

The VIM typically exposes northbound interfaces to higher-level orchestration systems and uses southbound interfaces to control hypervisors and virtualized infrastructure. It maintains inventories of available resources and enforces policies for placement, scaling, and fault management.

2. Enterprise Usage and Architectural Context

In ETSI network function virtualization reference architectures, the VIM operates within the Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) infrastructure layer and interacts with the NFV orchestrator and Virtual Network Function (VNF) managers. It provides abstracted resource views and executes resource-related requests issued by these higher-level components.

Enterprises and service providers use Virtualized Infrastructure Managers to coordinate multi-tenant virtualized environments, support automation of network services, and integrate heterogeneous compute and network platforms. The component helps align virtualized resource usage with capacity planning, policy, and service-level requirements.

3. Related or Adjacent Technologies

The VIM relates closely to cloud infrastructure managers, hypervisors, and Software Defined Networking (SDN) controllers. While a cloud infrastructure manager may provide broader cloud service abstractions, the VIM focuses on resource control within NFV infrastructure.

It also interacts with VNF managers that handle lifecycle management of individual VNFs, and with MANO frameworks that coordinate end-to-end network services. In some implementations, VIM capabilities integrate with or extend existing cloud and virtualization platforms.

4. Business and Operational Significance

A VIM supports consistent utilization and control of virtualized infrastructure resources across data centers and edge sites. It enables operators to manage capacity, enforce policies, and maintain service availability for virtual network functions and network services.

By providing programmatic interfaces and resource abstraction, the VIM supports automation, repeatability, and operational standardization in NFV deployments. It also supports assurance processes by exposing performance and fault data related to the underlying virtualized infrastructure.