Cloud-Native Network Function
A Cloud-Native Network Function (CNF) is a software-implementation of a network function, which runs inside a linux container (typically Kubernetes), which would traditionally be performed by a physical device. Cloud-Native Network Functions are a particular type of Virtualized Network Functions, one of the components of Network Function Virtualization. The characteristics of Cloud-Native Functions are: Relation to Network Function Virtualization. These characteristics address many of the common issues found with the first generation of VNFs, by incorporating many of the innovations deployed commonly in the internet infrastructure. These include auto-scaling, supporting a  continuous delivery/DevOps deployment model, and efficiency gains by sharing common services across platforms. Through service discovery and orchestration, a system based on CNFs will be more resilient to node failure. A specification of criteria to classify and characterize Cloud Native VNF implementations can be found in ETSI GS NFV-EVE 011. Cloud Native Computing Foundation. The Linux Foundation backed Cloud Native Computing Foundation project is actively supporting companies in contributing to open-source projects like Kubernetes or Prometheus, upon which Cloud Native Network Functions can be based on. The CNCF project also created a CNF Testbed, in order to  facilitate a common test-ground for various cloud-native network functions. Custom Cloud-Native Network Functions are developed by several companies, such as Cisco, Ericsson, or Red Hat.