Managed vs Customer-Managed VNFs
A VNF is delivered either customer-managed or Tata Communications-managed. In both models Tata Communications hosts the virtual appliance; the difference is who owns the licence and who runs the device day to day. Customer-managed means you bring your own licence and operate the device; Tata Communications-managed means Tata Communications supplies the licence and runs configuration, management, patching and renewals.
What each model includes
|
|
Customer-managed (BYO licence) |
Tata Communications-managed |
|
Hosting (compute + software image) |
Tata Communications |
Tata Communications |
|
Licence |
You provide (BYOL) |
Tata Communications (subscription) |
|
Initial configuration |
You |
Tata Communications |
|
Day-to-day management & changes |
You |
Tata Communications |
|
Software patching / upgrades |
You |
Tata Communications |
|
Licence renewal |
You |
Tata Communications |
|
Vendor / model coverage |
The full VNF catalogue |
A subset of vendors and models |
In short: customer-managed gives you a hosted virtual appliance that you operate exactly as you would your own device; Tata Communications-managed hands the whole lifecycle - design, configuration, monitoring, patching and licence - to Tata Communications.
Choosing a model
Choose customer-managed when you want to run the device yourself - for example, to keep it under your existing security or SD-WAN operating model, or to use a licence you already hold. Choose Tata Communications-managed when you would rather Tata Communications own the configuration and lifecycle, and you do not want to hold the licence or perform patching.
The Tata Communications-managed model covers a subset of the catalogue; where a vendor or model is available in both models, the Vendors & Devices section states which. A managed device is arranged with your account team, and the licence for a managed appliance is provided through Tata Communications’ managed-security service rather than purchased by you.
Where management shows up when ordering
When you configure a VNF you set two related fields: Licensing (Tata Subscription or BYOL) and Management (Tata Managed or Customer Managed). These choices are described with the other VNF fields on Selecting, Sizing & Configuring a VNF.