E-Guide

Expert answers to your network

virtualization questions
Its no secret that server virtualization affects the network. So for
some organizations, virtualizing the network itself makes a lot of
sense. This expert e-guide from SearchServerVirtualization.com
explains the benefits of virtualizing the network. Find out how to utilize
this technology to combine multiple networks into a single logical
network. Plus, get answers to common questions about network
virtualization technology to ensure a smooth transition.

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SearchServerVirtualization.com E-Guide
Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

E-Guide

Expert answers to your network

virtualization questions
Table of Contents
Network virtualization technology FAQ
Virtual network software: The basis of network virtualization
Resources from Datalink

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SearchServerVirtualization.com E-Guide
Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Network virtualization technology FAQ

By Alyssa Wood, Assistant Site Editor
Its no secret that server virtualization affects the network. So for some organizations,
virtualizing the network itself makes a lot of sense.
Network virtualization technology allows administrators to consolidate multiple networks,
divide a single network into many or create software-only networks between virtual
machines (VMs). The goal of network virtualization is to improve speed, automation and
network management. Network virtualization technology also binds separate physical
network switches into one virtual switch, which saves space and reduces power and cabling
costs.
Virtualizing a network begins with combining network resources and dividing available
bandwidth into independent channels. You can assign these channels to particular servers or
devices in real time. Using virtual network software, you can emulate network connectivity
among VMs on a physical host. Or, with external network virtualization, combine several
physical networks into one or more virtual networks.
With all these benefits, network virtualization technology is becoming more popular.
Throughout 2011, organizations will start focusing even more on network virtualization
security and management tools. The answers to these questions reveal the pros and cons of
virtual networks as well as everything you need to know about virtual switches, network
consolidation and virtual network management.
What does virtual network software do?
Depending on the size and type of your virtualization platform, you can place virtual
network software inside or outside a virtual server. External software uses switches,
adapters, network storage devices and Ethernet or Fibre Channel to aggregate physical
LANs into a single logical LAN, or to break a physical LAN into multiple virtual LANs (VLANs).
Internal software allows VMs to exchange data on a host without an external network, which
boosts VM performance and security.

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SearchServerVirtualization.com E-Guide
Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Different hypervisors support different network virtualization methods, but whichever type
of software you choose, be aware that managing a virtual network is tricky. You need
comprehensive documentation and virtual network management tools to keep track of
multiple abstracted networks running on a physical LAN.
What are the benefits of virtual networks?
Many people still see network virtualization technology as new, but it should really be
considered a next step for server virtualization admins. Network virtualization comes with
plenty of benefits to help convince customers: cost savings, rapid provisioning and
scalability. Some administrators might even use network virtualization services without
even knowing it. Products such as VMware vShield, vSphere vNetwork switches and Cisco
Systems Nexus 1000V all help to create virtual networks. But it takes research, planning
and cooperation between network and server virtualization teams to begin the process.
How does a virtual switch affect the network?
When you virtualize an infrastructure, a virtual switch connects hosts so that IP traffic can
move across the network. But doing so can introduce complexity, because you often need to
manually configure a virtual switch on each server. To solve that problem, VMware
developed a distributed virtual switch (vSwitch), which spans ports and management across
all servers in a cluster. It can also be difficult to manage larger virtual networks that span
data centers or disaster recovery sites, so its important to consider the number of Ethernet
connections your servers require.
What are some common problems with virtual network management?
Organizational politics and virtual network switch challenges often complicate virtual
network management. Virtualization administrators usually manage the virtual switch,
which can create friction with network admins, because they no longer control part of the
network (the part inside the hosts). Plus, much of the traffic between VMs on the same host
never leaves the host, so it doesnt go over the physical network, making it difficult to
monitor traffic with traditional devices.

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Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Overall, network virtualization can weaken security and manageability. But Cisco Systems
Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch shifts virtual network management inside a host
back to network admins and increases network security. Other products such as Reflex
Systems Virtual Management Center, Altor Networks Virtual Firewall and Catbirds
vSecurity can also improve virtual network management.
When should I use a virtual network appliance?
Like network virtualization, virtual network appliances arent necessarily useful in all
infrastructures. The main benefit of virtual appliances is that you can deploy them on
demand. But when you repackage a networking appliance into VM format, it cant rely on
dedicated hardware, and its resource consumption sometimes hurts performance. If youre
using CPU-intensive network appliances, though, those may be good virtualization
candidates.
Virtual network appliances are also useful for virtual network management in multi-tenant
clouds. And if firewall and routing functions are implemented as part of the virtual switch,
rather than relying on the VMs, virtualizing network appliances could help improve traffic
flow.
Can I apply network virtualization to wide area networks?
Yes, network virtualization technology can greatly benefit wide area networks (WANs). It
can help allocate WAN bandwidth, improve network speed and simplify WAN management.
For one, managing virtualized WANs is easier, because you can cluster network devices and
make them appear as a single device. Plus, the network appears as dedicated contiguous
channels, allowing admins to trace a VLAN from server to LAN to WAN to end user for
troubleshooting and capacity planning.

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Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Virtual network software: The basis of network

virtualization
By Stephen J. Bigelow
Network virtualization is a versatile technology. It allows you to combine multiple networks
into a single logical network, parcel a single network into multiple logical networks and even
create synthetic, software-only networks between virtual machines (VMs) on a physical
server.
Virtual networking typically starts with virtual network software, which is placed outside a
virtual server (external) or inside a virtual server -- depending on the size and type of the
virtualization platform.
Any virtual networking that takes place outside of a virtual server is called external network
virtualization. This occurs when multiple physical LANs are aggregated into a single logical
LAN, or when a single physical LAN is parceled out into multiple virtual
LANs (VLANs). External network virtualization uses virtual network software such as
Hewlett-Packard Virtual Connect and involves network switches, network adapters, servers,
network storage devices and the Ethernet or Fibre Channel media that interconnects these
hardware devices.
In internal network virtualization, virtual network software can emulate network
connectivity within the server and allow VMs hosted on that server to exchange data. It
might seem trivial, but the isolation that a virtual network provides can be useful.
Eliminating the need to pass data on an external network can improve performance and
bolster security for associated VMs.
Some virtual platforms support both internal and external network virtualization. VMware is
one example; its platform supports internal network virtualization through the native
hypervisor and uses additional software to support external virtualization.

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Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Certain vendors tout virtualization and networking as a vehicle for additional services -- not
just as a way to aggregate and allocate network resources. For example, it's common
practice for a network switch to support security, storage, voice over IP (VoIP) and other
advanced network services.
Regardless of the approach, managing virtual network software can be extremely
challenging. It can be difficult, even impossible, to keep track of the multiple services and
virtual networks running within the physical LAN. Careful documentation, clear workflow
procedures and comprehensive management tools are vital for proper virtual networking
management.
Several initiatives will influence the proliferation of network virtualization in the future.
These include, but are not limited to, the Global Environment for Network Innovations,
Future Internet Research and Experimentation, the AKARI Architecture Design Project and
Federated E-infrastructure Dedicated to European Researchers Innovating in Computing
Network Architectures (FEDERICA).

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Expert answers to your network virtualization questions

Resources from Datalink

Moving Toward a Virtual Data Center

Datalink Homepage

About Datalink
A complete data center solutions and services provider for Fortune 500 and mid-tier
enterprises, Datalink transforms data centers so they become more efficient, manageable
and responsive to changing business needs. Datalink helps leverage and protect storage,
server, and network investments with a focus on long-term value, offering a full lifecycle of
services, from consulting and design to implementation, management and support. Datalink
solutions span virtualization and consolidation, data storage and protection, advanced
networks, and business continuity. Each delivers measurable performance gains and
maximizes the business value of IT. For more information, call 800.448.6314 or visit
www.datalink.com

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