Virtual Switch
What is it?
Just as virtual machines make it possible for a single physical computer to serve multiple users simultaneously, a virtual switch is a piece of software that behaves like a network switch, allowing virtual machines to communicate with one another over a virtual network.
Because a virtual switch lacks the firewalls and intrusion prevention systems of a physical switch, additional features must be added to maintain security. What's more, because a virtual switch draws from the same pool of computational resources as the virtual machines, the benefits would be nullified if it was too resource-intensive. A good virtual switch should provide top-level security for virtual machines without hindering their performance.
Because a virtual switch lacks the firewalls and intrusion prevention systems of a physical switch, additional features must be added to maintain security. What's more, because a virtual switch draws from the same pool of computational resources as the virtual machines, the benefits would be nullified if it was too resource-intensive. A good virtual switch should provide top-level security for virtual machines without hindering their performance.
Why do you need it?
Virtualization has become an indelible part of modern computing, and virtual switches have an important role to play in the virtualized environment, as well. Like virtual machines, virtual switches are relatively easy and cost-efficient to deploy. New functions can be added by updating the software. Administrators can manage virtual switches through the same hypervisor they use to supervise virtual machines. Such a software-defined IT infrastructure that virtualizes all the elements of conventional "hardware-defined" systems is sometimes called a Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI).
Since a virtual switch is a smart application, it can be designed to enhance security by checking data packets before sending them to their intended destinations, and by ensuring the integrity of the virtual machines' profiles. It can also reduce the complexity of the network configuration by providing an optimal number of intangible switches, based on the actual demand of the network. Using virtual switches in conjunction with virtual machines will allow users to fully benefit from the convenience and efficiency of virtualization.
Since a virtual switch is a smart application, it can be designed to enhance security by checking data packets before sending them to their intended destinations, and by ensuring the integrity of the virtual machines' profiles. It can also reduce the complexity of the network configuration by providing an optimal number of intangible switches, based on the actual demand of the network. Using virtual switches in conjunction with virtual machines will allow users to fully benefit from the convenience and efficiency of virtualization.
How is GIGABYTE helpful?
GIGABYTE works closely with various partners to offer a ready-to-deploy virtualized infrastructure platform to our customer. The virtual switch can be included in such a package; it may be part of the hypervisor platform used to implement HCI, whether it's VMware vSAN, KVM, or Microsoft Hyper-V.
