Summary Network function virtualization (NFV) provides a simple and effective mean to deploy and manage network and telecommunications' services. A typical service can be expressed in the form of a virtual network function–forwarding graph (VNF‐FG). Allocating a VNF‐FG is equivalent to place VNFs and virtual links onto a given substrate network considering resources and quality‐of‐service (QoS) constraints. The deployment of VNF‐FGs in large‐scale networks, such that QoS measures and deployment cost are optimized,…