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IML - Infrastructure Management Layer

Welcome to the IML documentation!

What is IML?

IML (Infrastructure Management Layer) is a local Network Function Virtualization (NFV) orchestrator designed for Kubernetes environments. It enables you to:

  • Deploy applications and register them as traffic endpoints in your cluster
  • Deploy network functions that inspect, transform, or route traffic
  • Create service chains that define how traffic flows between applications through multiple network functions
  • Configure the data plane automatically so traffic follows your specified paths

IML works seamlessly with Kubernetes and provides both standalone workflows (where you define resources directly) and SMO-integrated workflows (where a higher-level orchestrator like Oakestra manages deployment).

Key Features

  • Kubernetes-Native: Fully integrated with Kubernetes using Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs)
  • Service Chaining: Define complex traffic paths through multiple network functions
  • Flexible Deployment: Supports both standalone and orchestrator-integrated modes
  • Local Optimization: Makes intelligent scheduling decisions for network function placement
  • Easy Development: Fully containerized with support for local testing via kind

Getting Started

New to IML?

Start here to understand the basics:

  1. Project Overview - Learn core concepts like Applications, Network Functions, and Service Chains
  2. Quick Start Guide - Set up IML and deploy your first service chain in minutes

Contributing to IML

Interested in developing IML? Check out:

Documentation Sections

📚 Core Documentation

🛠️ Development & Contributing

Need Help?