Certified versus vendor-validated - What does this mean?

A certified VNF (Virtual Network Function) uses Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) as the operating system. A Vendor Validated VNF uses a non-certified operating system.

In both cases, Red Hat looks at two main interactions between the VNF and RHOSP:

OpenStack APIs for products implementing APIs (Neutron plug-ins, for example) are functional

RHEL and OSP software packages in the host are supportable, meaning the software bits have not been modified.

Red Hat fully supports the environment for VNFs that have passed certification. Customers and partners can rely on Red Hat to address issues relating to RHEL, OSP and RHEL as a guest OS.

In a Vendor Validated scenario, where the VNF is running on a non-certified guest operating system, the vendor works with the customer to isolate any issues to either the guest OS or RHOSP. If there is an issue between the VNF, guest OS and RHOSP environment Red Hat will work with all parties involved in an attempt to resolve the issue. Red Hat is under no obligation to modify Red Hat software unless the issue can be reproduced in a certified environment.

In both scenarios, any support for the VNF functionality will need to be provided by the VNF Partner pursuant to their terms.