Intelligent distribution of virtual network function images

A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a hardware-based processor, performs stages for orchestrating image distribution in a network, the stages comprising:

• receiving an image for a Virtual Network Function (VNF);
• deploying the image to a storage location that is selected based on at least:
• metadata for the image, and a location of a Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM);
• tracking the storage location of the image;
• and
• notifying the VIM of the storage location for the image, wherein the VIM retrieves the image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF;
• and
• wherein the image metadata is used to validate placement of the VNF in the storaqe location, wherein the storaqe location is accessible by the VIM, and wherein the validation is performed by a placement engine that compares compute requirements in a Virtual Deployment Unit for the VNF with compute capabilities at a cloud identified in a Network Service Descriptor (NSD).

A system for orchestrating image distribution in a network, comprising:

• a memory storage including a non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions;
• and
• a computing device including a hardware-based processor that executes the instructions to carry out stages comprising:
• receiving an image for a Virtual Network Function (VNF);
• deploying the image to a storage location that is selected based on at least:
• metadata for the image, and a location of a Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM);
• tracking the storage location of the image;
• and
• notifying the VIM of the storage location for the image, wherein the VIM retrieves the image from the storage location to instantiate the VNF;
• and
• wherein the image metadata is used to validate placement of the VNF in the storage location, wherein the storage location is accessible by the VIM, and wherein the validation is performed by a placement engine that compares compute requirements in a Virtual Deployment Unit (VDU) for the VNF with compute capabilities at a cloud identified in a Network Service Descriptor (NSD).