Network function virtualization (NFV) enables network operators to save costs and flexibility by replacing dedicated hardware with software network functions running on commodity servers. There is a high need for network acceleration to achieve performance comparable to hardware, which is vital for the implementation of NFV. The necessity of NFV acceleration stems from the lengthy packet delivery path following virtualization and the unavailability of generic operating system designs to serve network-specific scenarios. Therefore, the software approach alters the operating system’s processing architecture through Kernel Bypass or offload packet processing to hardware. A typical classification scheme divides it into two main categories based on technology with software and hardware. Only these two categories can be utilized to rapidly and easily establish a classification system. However, it is difficult to suggest the specifics and peculiarities of any acceleration approach during real-world operation. For a more comprehensive classification of NFV acceleration, we refer to the ETSI NFV architectural framework in this research. As the framework clearly illustrates, the technical infrastructure layer of NFV and the corresponding management roles provides a comprehensive and intuitive view of the differences between these acceleration technologies, solutions, and initiatives. Additionally, we conducted an analysis to identify opportunities for improvement in existing solutions and propose new research programs. We expect that NFV will increasingly rely on cloud services in the future. Since cloud services do not offer a choice of hardware, our acceleration method will be primarily software-based.

Service-Based Architecture (SBA) serves as a foundational methodology for 5G core networks, as delineated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This modular approach segments the 5G Core Network into discrete, functionally autonomous Network Functions (NFs), deployed via either virtual machines or container technologies. The efficacy of the SBA execution platform significantly impacts the service capabilities of these NFs. In this study, we present an enhanced architecture that employs extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) and eXpress Data Path (XDP) technologies to fine-tune the network, security, service, and scheduling aspects within a Kubernetes framework. Additionally, eBPF’s monitoring and packet control features augment the service capabilities of 5G components, thereby improving encrypted data transmission. eBPF’s real-time monitoring aids the scheduler in making nuanced decisions, while an eBPF-driven load balancer ensures equitable service distribution. Comprehensive testing reveals that the enhanced architecture increases transmission efficiency by 17%, reduces average latency by 43%, and alleviates latency anomalies compared to conventional 5G NF platforms. It also enhances the inherent connectivity of 5G NFs by approximately 15%. For encryption-reliant applications, the architecture achieves a 17% performance gain in latency, transmission, and connectivity, while its scheduling and service balancing capabilities demonstrate a roughly 19% performance enhancement.