Network Virtualization And how it Works?
Overview
Network virtualization is changing a network that used to depend on hardware into a network that runs on software. As with other types of IT virtualization, the main goal of network virtualization is to implement a layer of abstraction between physical hardware, applications and services which uses the hardware.
Network virtualization makes it possible for network functions, hardware resources, and software resources to deliver as a virtual network that is not tying to any hardware. For example, it can use to combine many physical networks into one, split up a single physical network, or link together virtual machines (VMs).
With network virtualization, digital service providers can better use their server resources. It uses cheaper standard servers to do things that used to require expensive proprietary hardware and make its networks faster, more flexible, and more reliable overall.
Types of Network Virtualization
There are two kinds of network virtualization:
· External virtualization
· Internal virtualization
External network virtualization can turn systems that physically connect to the same local area network (LAN) into different virtual local area networks (VLANs), or it can put systems that physically connect to other LANs into the same VLAN. This lets the people who run an extensive network improve how well it works.
Internal network virtualization makes a server act like a physical network. On the other hand, external network virtualization works on systems other than a single server. Most of the time, this is done to make a server work better. Setting up software containers on a server is part of it. For example, you can run different operating systems on the same server or use containers to keep each app separate.
Why should you care about virtualizing a network?
Network virtualization takes all of the physical IT infrastructure elements (compute, network, and storage) and separates them from their hardware. This pool automatically sends resources to where they are needed most as business needs and demands change. This is especially important in the telecom industry, where traditional providers must change their networks and operations to keep up with new technology.
Whether virtual reality in remote surgery or intelligent grids that let ambulances go through traffic lights quickly and safely, new technologies promise to make things much better and more accessible. But many service providers’ networks, which always base on hardware, need to be changed to accommodate this new technology. Network virtualization gives service providers the flexibility and scalability they need to keep up.
Hyperscale public cloud providers have shown how cloud-native architectures and open-source development can speed up service delivery, deployment, and iteration, telecommunication service providers, can use the same approach to operate with more agility, flexibility, resilience, and security. They can handle the complexity of the infrastructure with automation and a single horizontal platform. They can also meet consumers’ and businesses’ higher performance, safety, ubiquity, and user experience need. With cloud-native architectures and automation, providers can change and add services and features more quickly to meet their customers’ needs and want better.
Components of network virtualization:
Network virtualization is something that many hardware and software companies offer by putting together any of the following:
· Switches and network interface cards, which are also called network adapters.
· A network has parts, such as firewalls and load balancers.
· Networks and containers are things like Virtual LANs (VLANs) and virtual machines (VMs).
· Storage devices for the network.
· Parts of a network, such as telecommunications devices, that link machines to machines.
· There are laptops, tablets, and phones.
· Fiber Channel and Ethernet.
VMware NSX
VMware NSX is a set of software products for virtual networking and security. It is based on the ideas behind VMware’s vCloud Networking and Security (vCNS) and Nicira’s Network Virtualization Platform (NVP).
Software-defined networking, or SDN, is a part of VMware’s software-defined data center, or SDDC, which offers cloud computing using VMware’s virtualization technologies. SDN is a part of VMware’s SDN, which stands for software-defined networking. With NSX, the company wants to set up virtual networking environments that don’t need a command-line interface (CLI) or other direct administrator action.
Network virtualization takes network operations away from the hardware underneath and puts them on a distributed virtualization layer. This is like virtualizing a server’s processing power and operating systems (OSes). For example, VMware vCNS virtualizes layers 4 through 7 of the Open Systems Interconnection models, and Nicira’s NVP virtualizes layers 2 and 3 of the network fabric.
NSX lets you use virtual firewalls, switches, routers, ports, and other networking components. This lets cloud management systems, hypervisors, and network hardware from different vendors work together in a virtual network. It can also work with networking and security services from outside the ecosystem.
