SDN and NFV are a reality today, but is it the reality that the industry wanted? It's up to the SDN community to set realistic expectations and be candid

Carrier virtualization, programmability and the massive data sets from machine learning and analytics are driving new requirements for data centers.

The SD-WAN architecture is well suited for the cloud because a company can install a WAN CPE but manage the system from the cloud.

With machine learning, big data, cloud, and NFV initiatives invading the data center, there are implications for data center networking performance.

Virtualizing the data center may make it more efficient and agile but additional processing power may be needed.

As open source NFV technologies mature, the rate of adoption should soar in 2017.

To foster NFV interoperability, many initiatives have launched to help organizations determine what NFV software is compatible.

Service providers must accurately estimate vCPE processing power if they want to avoid ripping and replacing equipment down the road.

NFV online stores are transforming the way the networking gear is being purchased and distributed.

NFV interoperability is stalled and may be causing operators to forego deploying NFV.

It may soon be unnecessary to backhaul traffic to the data center.

NFV popularity is forcing more companies to make MANO a higher priority so they can combat virtual server sprawl.

While software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) don’t necessarily require each other to add value to an enterprise, they are collectively being joined at the proverbial hip.

The NV market continues to grow and evolve, supporting many different technologies and vendor platforms as customers look for the right mix

It’s becoming clear that a smarter NIC will be crucial to white boxes built for NFV and SDN applications.

OpenStack is becoming the de facto standard for infrastructure orchestration for NFV deployment by leading Communications Service Providers (CSPs).

A wide array of supplementary technologies, including adjustments to the NIC, are being built to deliver high performance NFV for service providers.

In the move to the telco cloud, some key considerations are crucial in NFVI components selection.

In the move to the telco cloud, there are some crucial considerations in NFVI components selection.

As NFV efforts shift away from physical network appliances, the use of NFV coprocessors will be key to averting software and hardware bottlenecks.

In the move to the telco cloud and NFV, there are a number of risks associated with implementing a fully virtualized system.

Not everything has to be hyperscale. IT departments are looking at different models of modeling to the cloud, using NFV technology and microservices for different levels of scale.

Many operators view the shift to the telco cloud and NFV as a series of steps that require careful planning, not a wholesale rip-and-replace.

Next-generation applications will demand a new level of service assurance that can be delivered by third-party SDN technologies, married with monitoring and automation.