Network Virtualization (NV) means that network resources that are normally delivered in hardware are instead implemented in software. This means that you can combine one or more physical networks into a software-defined virtual network, or you can divide one traditional network into multiple, separate and independent virtual networks that behave the same way as a traditional network.
This allows you to move virtual machines between different domains and users without re-configuring the underlying network hardware. The software creates what is called a network overlay that can run separate virtual network layers on top of one, physical set of network devices.
NV is useful because of the way it changes how services are delivered: that is, from the software-defined data center (SDDC), to the cloud, and to where the cloud meets other networks. It enables networks to move from static, inflexible, and thus inefficient to agile, dynamic, and optimized because they can be modified on the fly without affecting the a network’s physical hardware. This is useful to help keep up with the demands for cloud-hosted, distributed apps which are becoming more common as cloud adoption increases.
It also helps to implement security objectives while delivering the speed and flexibility you need to achieve faster time to market for applications. With NV, you no longer need to spend days or weeks setting up a traditional network infrastructure to support a new application. Applications can be deployed or updated in minutes by changing the network environment as required which leads to rapid and agile development cycles.
Network virtualization operates by decoupling network services from the underlying hardware that delivers them and allows virtual setup of the entire network. It makes it possible to create, provision, and manage networks from a software interface, while continuing to use the underlying physical network as the means of communication (by forwarding packets through it; is called the ‘backplane’). Network resources, such as routers, switches, firewalls, load balancing tools and virtual private networks (VPNs), among others, are pooled for common use by the virtual network(s) that are implemented in software; all they require is the Internet Protocol (IP) packet forwarding mechanism from the underlying network hardware to function.
NV helps organizations achieve significant improvements in speed, agility and security by automating and simplifying the processes that are required to define a data center network, manage the network and provide security in cloud-based environments. Some key benefits of network virtualization include:
• Reducing network setup time from weeks to minutes
• Increasing operational efficiency by automating manual processes
• Moving workloads dynamically independently of the physical hardware
• Improving network security
