Network virtualization gives your organization the freedom to deliver IT services more efficiently by abstracting network functions from physical infrastructure. Efficiency and freedom are both principles that IT teams must prioritize to spur further success, whereas lacking those principles might lead to burdensome restrictions or even failure. Applying virtualization to your company’s network is one way to bolster efficiency and free yourself from the restrictions of a physical-only networking strategy.
With a virtualized network infrastructure on the Nutanix platform, you can reap the full benefits of network virtualization.
Key Takeaways:
While both Nutanix and VMware offer virtualization solutions, the Nutanix approach leans much more strongly toward granting the end user the power of choice while also making the virtualization so simple that you can condense it into just a few easy steps.
Network virtualization is the abstraction of network functions and services from the underlying physical infrastructure. The abstraction is facilitated by a network hypervisor such as Nutanix AHV which is an end-to-end hypervisor facilitating the creation and management of virtual machines. This process combines network hardware and software functionality into a single entity known as a virtualized network infrastructure.
Layering software abstraction over multiple physical networks makes it possible and easy to combine them into one large interconnected virtual network. Conversely, network virtualization software also allows for the separation of one physical network into smaller segmented networks that exist virtually within one hardware location.
Like other forms of virtualization, building a virtualized network infrastructure involves using virtual machines (VMs) or software-based instances to emulate the functions of physical network devices. A capable hypervisor is a critical component of the virtualization environment, as it manages VMs and allocates compute, memory, and network resources among them. Ultimately, network virtualization benefits an organization’s operations by providing:
As previously mentioned, enterprises adopt network virtualization because it delivers measurable improvements in efficiency, scalability, and security. Core benefits include:
These advantages make network virtualization a strategic step for enterprises looking to modernize their IT infrastructure and enable hybrid multicloud operations.
If you’re wondering how to virtualize your network, the process can be simplified into three practical steps:
Server virtualization is a prolific practice that allows organizations to extract maximum value from their physical hardware. It is the basis for cloud computing and many other modern IT practices.
Similarly, server virtualization is a precursor to network virtualization. Like any other device in the datacenter stack, network devices draw resources from servers. A company that is not investing in server virtualization solutions is not harnessing the full power of its hardware and is therefore likely to struggle with establishing an entire virtualized network infrastructure.
Successfully virtualizing your servers requires using a platform such as Nutanix AHV that comes with a fully equipped hypervisor that can spin up and manage virtual machines in your environment. Unlike other virtualization solutions, Nutanix is adept at accommodating a hybrid ecosystem and can facilitate extending virtualization from on-premises systems to the public cloud.
Another feature of server virtualization is the ability to move VMs across locations, making it easy to lay the groundwork for network virtualization even in a cloud environment or to begin cloud migration in the first place.
A datacenter model that has server virtualization at its core is better equipped to adopt virtualization in other aspects of the infrastructure, especially if that infrastructure is also cloud-ready. Taking the next step in virtualizing the network will bring your enterprise much closer to a fully virtualized network infrastructure.
The act of virtualizing a network comes down to decoupling network services from the underlying hardware. Network resources then become free from certain physical restrictions, and the act of configuring or maintaining those resources no longer requires on-site upkeep.
At the same time, this entails decoupling the network control plane from its data plane. This means the user can virtually provision network resources across the broad-reaching data plane from a software-based control plane at a central location.
In the resulting virtualized network environment, it is possible to deliver physical network resources through software while attaching software-based services to respective workloads.
While there are multiple solutions on the market for transitioning to a virtualized network infrastructure, not all of them are easy to use or even particularly user-friendly. If you are a first-time consumer of network virtualization solutions, or if your current platform creates too much resistance, you need a simple path to a virtualized network.
Nutanix AHV is a comprehensive virtualization platform that enables the management of the entire stack, including the network layer. A unified control plane with an emphasis on simplicity for the user makes it easy to interface with virtual networking as well as hyperconverged infrastructure elements, automation, and security.
Seamless integration with the virtual network even allows for rapid, adaptable configuration of network elements directly from the control plane. This level of simplicity is consistent, regardless of where each respective element is located and whether the location is a proprietary or third-party cloud.
Other virtualization platforms such as VMware do not provide the same simplicity and consistency. Users in the VMware environment may have to learn different tools and processes for interacting with network elements at each different location. With Nutanix AHV, you can accomplish and manage all your virtualized network infrastructure tasks through one standardized interface i.e. Nutanix Prism.
Check out this IDC whitepaper, to see the business value of the Nutanix Cloud Platform and the hybrid multicloud.
While the benefits of network virtualization are clear, many organizations face obstacles during adoption:
Nutanix addresses these challenges by delivering an integrated platform where compute, storage, and networking are managed through a single interface. With Nutanix AHV and Prism, enterprises gain centralized control, consistent workflows—with security through Flow Network Security and advanced networking through Flow Virtual Networking—all designed to simplify infrastructure operations and management.
Allied Market Research valued the network function virtualization market at $21.90 billion in 2021 and projects that value to increase to $180.67 billion by 2031. This is a growing technology movement that is unavoidable, but it is also a move that companies should make properly.
Network virtualization powered by Nutanix AHV and supported by Nutanix Flow security is the best path toward virtualizing your network infrastructure.
The Nutanix platform is also the best place to build a network that spans multiple clouds. Unlike VMware, Nutanix offers fully portable licenses and therefore allows you to optimally place data and apps across the hybrid cloud with no restrictions.
Companies operating in the Nutanix environment have unparalleled freedom for their virtualized network infrastructure. Not only will your network gain speed and scalability through virtualization, but it will also be a medium through which you can deploy your enterprise’s data and apps anywhere.
What is network virtualization?
Network virtualization is the abstraction of network functions from physical hardware using software. It enables IT teams to combine or segment networks, improving scalability, manageability, and efficiency.
How do I implement network virtualization?
Implementation typically involves three steps: assessing network requirements, deploying network virtualization software (such as Nutanix AHV with Nutanix Flow), and configuring virtual networks and security policies.
What software is used for network virtualization?
Solutions such as Nutanix AHV with Flow for microsegmentation and Prism for centralized management provide end-to-end network virtualization capabilities, integrating with automation, security, and hybrid cloud environments.
What are the benefits of network virtualization?
Benefits include faster provisioning, centralized management, stronger security, scalability in hybrid cloud environments, and reduced reliance on physical hardware.
Is network virtualization the same as server virtualization?
No. Server virtualization abstracts physical hardware into virtual machines, while network virtualization abstracts network resources and functions. Both work together to create a fully virtualized IT environment.
Learn more about embracing cloud native computing in your virtualized network environment and how to virtualize desktop infrastructure as well.
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