Network Virtualization 101

Maybe, network virtualization is the newest member in the data center virtualization family. After compute virtualization (VMware vSphere) and storage virtualization (from various storage vendors such as IBM, Hitachi Data Systems and Data Core to name a few) it is adding additional functions and features to the network segment. NSX enables similar things for networking as ESX / vSphere has enabled for compute. It creates an abstraction layer that enables various network functions to run on top of any physical switch hardware/vendor. This is a highly disruptive technology, which changes the entire networking sector. Just as much as compute virtualization once was when VMware introduced it in the early 2000s.

The image displays a comparison between compute virtualization and network virtualization. Although these concepts are quite different, they share some common sense, which might be beneficial to highlight to understand the technology.

Both concepts introduce...