5.1. Putting Together a Virtual Network

Designing and building virtual networks with VMware ESX/ESXi and vCenter Server bears some similarities to designing and building physical networks, but there are enough significant differences that an overview of components and terminology is first warranted. So, I'll take a moment here to define the various components involved in a virtual network, and then I'll discuss some of the factors that affect the design of a virtual network:

vNetwork Standard Switch (vSwitch)

A software-based switch that resides in the VMkernel and provides traffic management for virtual machines. Users must manage vSwitches independently on each ESX/ESXi host.

vNetwork Distributed Switch

A software-based switch that resides ...

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