hardMultiple Select
NFV MANO Framework: Orchestrator, VNF Manager, and Infrastructure Manager
Which three statements about NFV MANO (Management and Orchestration) are true? (Choose three.)
Quick Answer
The correct answer identifies the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) as the component that controls and manages NFVI compute, storage, and network resources. This is true because NFV MANO is the architectural framework that separates orchestration from resource management: the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) coordinates network services across multiple VIMs and WAN Infrastructure Managers, the VNF Manager (VNFM) handles the lifecycle of individual VNF instances, and the VIM directly manages the underlying NFVI hardware and hypervisors. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish the three core MANO roles without confusing them with OSS/BSS systems, which interact with but are not part of MANO. A common trap is attributing hypervisor management to the NFVO, but remember: the Orchestrator handles service-level coordination, not infrastructure control. Use the mnemonic "NVO orchestrates services, VNFM manages instances, VIM controls resources" to lock in the roles.
⚠ Common exam trap
350-401 often tests the boundaries between MANO components, and candidates may incorrectly assign hypervisor management to NFVO instead of VIM, or include OSS/BSS as part of MANO.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) is responsible for network service orchestration and resource orchestration across multiple VIMs.
Option A is correct because the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) performs network service orchestration (composing VNFs into network services via NSDs/VNF Forwarding Graphs) and resource orchestration, coordinating resource requests across one or more VIMs in the NFVI. Option B is correct because the VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation, scaling, updating, healing, and termination, as defined in ETSI NFV MANO. Option C is correct because the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) controls and manages the NFVI compute, storage, and network resources, typically exposing them through APIs such as OpenStack Nova, Cinder, and Neutron. Option D is not correct because OSS/BSS are external systems that interact with NFV MANO (mainly through the NFVO's Os-Ma-nfvo reference point) but are not themselves part of the MANO framework and do not directly manage VNF instances. Option E is not correct because the NFVO does not directly manage the hypervisor layer; resource allocation in the NFVI is performed by the VIM, with the NFVO issuing resource-orchestration requests rather than hypervisor-level commands.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) is responsible for network service orchestration and resource orchestration across multiple VIMs.
Why this is correct
The NFVO performs both network service orchestration and resource orchestration, coordinating across multiple VIMs. This cross-domain scope distinguishes it from the VNFM, which manages individual VNF instances rather than end-to-end services spanning several virtualised infrastructures.
- ✓
The VNF Manager (VNFM) handles lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation, scaling, and termination.
Why this is correct
The VNFM owns VNF lifecycle duties: instantiation, scaling, healing and termination, per ETSI MANO. This separates vendor-specific virtual network function management from the NFVO's service-level orchestration, which is exactly the functional split the standard defines.
- ✓
The Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) controls and manages the NFVI compute, storage, and network resources.
Why this is correct
The VIM administers the NFVI's compute, storage and network resources, typically through a cloud platform such as OpenStack. It sits below the VNFM in the MANO stack, abstracting hardware so virtual network functions can be placed and monitored.
- ✗
OSS/BSS systems are part of the NFV MANO framework and directly manage VNF instances.
Why it's wrong here
OSS/BSS sit outside the ETSI NFV MANO scope; MANO comprises NFVO, VNFM and VIM, and VNF instances are managed by the VNFM, not OSS/BSS. It is tempting because OSS/BSS do orchestrate services end-to-end commercially, but that is service-layer operations, not the MANO functional blocks defined by ETSI.
- ✗
The NFVO directly manages the hypervisor layer to allocate virtual resources to VNFs.
Why it's wrong here
Hypervisor resource allocation belongs to the VIM, which manages the NFVI compute, storage and networking; the NFVO orchestrates network services and resource flows across VIMs. It is tempting because the NFVO issues resource requests, but those are fulfilled by the VIM, not by direct hypervisor control.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two statements about NFV MANO (Management and Orchestration) are true? (Choose two.)
medium- ✓ A.The VNF Manager (VNFM) is responsible for the lifecycle management of VNF instances, including instantiation and scaling.
- ✓ B.The NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) coordinates the allocation of resources across multiple VNFs and the NFVI.
- C.The Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) manages the lifecycle of VNFs and their connectivity.
- D.The VIM is responsible for service chaining and policy enforcement within the NFV environment.
- E.The VNFM is responsible for managing the physical hardware resources in the NFVI.
Why A: Option A is correct because the VNF Manager (VNFM) in the ETSI NFV MANO architecture owns the lifecycle of VNF instances, performing operations such as instantiation, configuration, scaling, healing, and termination of VNFs. Option B is correct because the NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) performs resource orchestration and network service orchestration, coordinating resource allocation across multiple VNFs and the NFVI, and managing Network Service (NS) lifecycle. Option C is incorrect because VNF lifecycle management belongs to the VNFM, while the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) manages the NFVI compute, storage, and network resources (e.g., via OpenStack) and their virtualization, not VNF lifecycles. Option D is incorrect because service chaining and policy enforcement are handled by the NFVO/VNFM and the NFVI forwarding functions (e.g., via SFC/OpenFlow), not by the VIM, which controls the virtualized infrastructure resources. Option E is incorrect because the VNFM manages VNF software instances, not physical hardware; physical and virtualized infrastructure resources in the NFVI are managed by the VIM.
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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