Exploring Different Types of Virtualization in Data Center Network

As data center demands grow, traditional networks struggle with flexibility, scalability, and security. Network virtualization technology improves management by abstracting physical resources and enabling multiple virtual networks to share the same infrastructure. This paper explores how network virtualization technology enhances data center network performance and resource utilization.

What is Network Virtualization Technology?

Network virtualization technology uses software-defined abstraction to divide a single physical network into multiple independent, secure virtual networks. That is, creating multiple virtual networks on a shared physical network infrastructure. These virtual networks share the same physical resources through logical isolation. Compared with traditional networks, network virtualization improves resource utilization, and simplifies data center network management and configuration. It also provides greater scalability for data center network architecture.

Overview of Popular Network Virtualization Technologie

Network virtualization technologies have emerged in response to the demands of data center networks. The following are a few common virtualization technologies.

VXLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN)

VXLAN is a widely adopted network virtualization technology that addresses the limitations of traditional VLANs by creating a Layer 2 overlay network on top of a Layer 3 network infrastructure, providing greater scalability and flexibility. VXLAN leverages encapsulation to overlay a virtual network on top of the existing IP network infrastructure, enabling the seamless migration of virtual machines between different physical hosts.

NVGRE (Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation)

Similar to VXLAN, NVGRE is an overlay network virtualization technology that allows for the creation of virtual Layer 2 networks over Layer 3 networks. NVGRE uses encapsulation techniques to encapsulate Layer 2 frames within IP packets, enabling the extension of virtual networks across physical boundaries. It provides enhanced network isolation and scalability and leverages the GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) header to enable network virtualization in multi-tenant data centers.

STT (Stateless Transport Tunneling)

STT is a tunneling encapsulation technique in network virtualization that allows the construction of overlay networks in virtualized networks. It focuses on providing a lightweight and flexible encapsulation mechanism for virtual network traffic. STT encapsulates packets with a lightweight header, allowing efficient communication across virtual networks. It is designed to be stateless, simplifying network operations and improving performance.

SPBM (Shortest Path Bridging MAC-in-MAC)

SPBM is a network virtualization technology designed to improve control plane scalability, network bandwidth utilization, and control of forwarding paths in Ethernet networks by introducing a MAC-in-MAC forwarding paradigm. SPBM uses a distributed control plane to dynamically assign MAC addresses and manage network for warding to facilitate efficient traffic routing and load balancing. It provides a scalable and efficient way to build and manage virtual networks in a data center environment.

Network Virtualization Technology in Data Center Switches

Network virtualization enables data centers to respond quickly to changing demands and deploy applications more efficiently. With different types of virtualization technologies, the data center architecture can provide greater flexibility in design and scalability to meet dynamic changes in future business requirements. The following chart gives you a better visualization of the benefits in a tabular format.

Data center switches are the typical application of network virtualization technology in data centers. FS's PicOS® data center switch series fully supports EVPN-VXLAN virtualization technology, which can help enterprises achieve efficient Layer 2 virtualization across Layer 3 networks. These switches enable rapid expansion of virtual networks through VXLAN solution while ensuring traffic isolation and network security between tenants to enhance data center flexibility.

In addition, with automatic configuration and central management through AmpCon-DC SDN Controller, PicOS® Data Center Switches enable more resilient and efficient network operations at a lower cost for data center networks.

FS's cloud data center VXLAN network solution is an example. At the network layer of cloud data center architecture, PicOS switches are deployed on IP fabric networks, and tenant or service networks are constructed through VXLAN and BGP EVPN technologies. This architecture enables the physical sharing of network resources, logical security isolation, and on-demand interconnection.

Summary

Network virtualization has become a cornerstone of modern data center architecture. Network virtualization technologies like VXLAN, NVGRE, STT, and SPBM enhance security, scalability, and efficiency, enabling data centers to better adapt to changing business needs and optimize data center network architecture.

If you would like to learn more about network virtualization solutions, contact FS Solutions for expert technical support and customized services.