What Is Network Virtualization? A Comprehensive Guide

 

There is no substitute for network virtualization to test the performance of multiple physical networks at a time. Do people often ask what is network virtualization? The answer is simple. It is the process, technique, and methodology of combining organizational resources to consolidate multiple networks. Network virtualization also helps you divide a network into functional segments or create new software networks between VMs. Virtual networks are considered an important tool for IT firms to create multiple isolated networks with the same infrastructures and frameworks. It allows users to modify and reconfigure the physical networks without making any changes in the hardware settings. As manual configuration is not required in this process, you can spin up your logical networks with agility to meet your project requirements.

EVOS network virtualization platform has some essential benefits for its users, which include faster service delivery, improved control & supervision, and top-notch operational efficiency. This article aims at providing you with a comprehensive guidebook on network virtualization. So keep reading till the end.

What Is Network virtualization?

Top IT firms need robust network simulators to support their innovations and end products. In simple terms, network virtualization is an advanced network simulator that helps you efficiently test new applications, IT solutions, processes, and frameworks. So, when you ask what is network virtualization, the answer is it is the technology abstracts network solutions from the physical hardware and infrastructure. It provides your network with an abstraction layer to host and supports a wide range of virtual networks. It has a hypervisor that can effectively represent the critical nodes and links for building virtual networks. Network virtualization platforms equipped with hypervisors can also manage and control the capacity, bandwidth allocation, and resource utilization.

Network Virtualization-Workflow:

Network virtualization has been implemented for years. The tech world has already experienced server virtualization and LAN virtualization. The emergence of micro-segmentation, abstraction, and programmability has increased the use of network virtualization. EVOS network virtualization platform is one of such network virtualization framework that allows enterprises to scale their networks. A virtual network comprises of critical elements such as VM workloads, network hypervisors, host protocols, controller software, etc These elements ensure the rapid delivery of network applications and services.

Importance Of Network Virtualization:

• A Wide Range Of Applications & Uses: There is a wide range of use cases of network virtualization, such as performance management and security and risk management of a new design or product. In addition to that, network virtualization also allows your IT network team to allocate appropriate resources and bandwidth and audit your IT infrastructure.
• Operational Efficiency: SaaS-based network virtualization, like the EVOS network virtualization platform, improves an enterprise's network performance and efficiency. It allows the workforce of any organization to work from anywhere while allowing management to control the test workflow remotely.
• Faster Application Delivery: Network virtualization is equipped with dedicated hardware and an easy API integration feature that ensures faster application delivery and execution. In addition, the virtual lab is completely programmable, which increases the speed of network processing.
• Improved Network Security & Data Recovery: Network security is the greatest challenge for most organizations in the world. Network virtualization technology like the EVOS network virtualization platform ensures robust network security and infrastructure support to expedite faster data recovery. Some of the network virtualization platforms are equipped with multi-factor authentication and encrypted in-browser consoling.
• Faster Network Configuration & Cost Savings: Faster network configuration is a necessity for modern-day businesses. Network virtualization simplifies the configuration process and ensures higher cost optimization for enterprises. The platform significantly reduces hardware and network operating costs.

Uses & Applications Of EVOS Network Virtualization:

There are mainly two types of network virtualization, namely external and internal. In external virtualization, switches and adapters combine one or more network units into a vertical unit. In contrast, network-like functionality is used on a single network server in internal virtualization. Internal virtualization allows VMs to exchange data without using an external network. To get the answer to what is network virtualization, let's take a look at some of its uses and applications.

#1 Virtualization For Data Center:

In this sector, network virtualization has been used in data centers for years in the form of VLANs, VPNs, and MPLS. It increases network security while providing management with better control over network processing. Data center virtualization has also incorporated emerging concepts like infrastructure as code to configure and manage infrastructure more efficiently and accurately. Leading network platform like EVOS also helps to test network designs in the data centers.

#2 Network Virtualization In The WAN:

WAN is one of the most important segments that has incorporated network virtualization. Management of the underlying IT infrastructure is one of the most critical aspects of effective EAN virtualization. In WAN virtualization, you can manage an extensive array of activities, including contract management, billing, troubleshooting, and management. Network emulation platforms like EVOS have cutting-edge management tools to ensure flexible WAN deployment.

#3 Network Virtualization In The LAN:

LAN virtualization has the same principles as SDN. It extends virtualization to the entire LAN unline VLANs which depend on ethernet and other layers 2 protocols. LAN virtualization also includes network emulation to expand your test environment. Leading turnkey virtual lab environment platforms like EVOS facilitate top-notch LAN virtualization that enables you to deploy your remote workforce anytime.

#4 Network Virtualization Security:

Network security is an essential and indispensable part of a network configuration and design. Network virtualization innovations like the EVOS network virtualization platform ensure security by facilitating high-end encryption and effective isolation. Virtual network platform develops a zero-thrust environment to ensure end-to-end secured connectivity. It also secures all the communication channels across the organization.

Final Thoughts:

Hopefully, the article has answered the question of what is network virtualization and provided you with unique insights. Today’s competitive world asks for more efficient product development. So, more IT firms and brands are willing to use virtual lab environments to test their new product before launching. In addition, network virtualization saves them a lot of money and time while testing their innovations. The platform makes your final product well-performant across multiple domains and servers. It also improves your network service quality.