How to Get Started with Network VirtualizationWhy it matters, how it will affect you, and some key technologies to know

Scott Lowe, VCDX 39vExpert, Author, Blogger, Geek

http://blog.scottlowe.org / Twitter: @scott_lowe

Before we start

•Get involved! Audience participation is encouraged and requested.

• If you use Twitter, feel free to tweet about this session (use handles @MyVMUG or @WPVMUG or hashtag #WPVMUG)

• I encourage you to take photos or videos of today’s session and share them online

•This presentation will be made available online after the event

Your name is familiar...

•What is network virtualization?•How is it similar to compute virtualization?•Why does network virtualization matter to me?•How does network virtualization change my job?•How does network virtualization affect my networking group?•What are some key technologies I should know?•What are the key components of network virtualization?

Agenda

“If you can’t explain it simply, youdon’t understand it well enough.”

- Albert Einstein

•A combination of technologies to support the creation of virtual (or logical) networks

•A virtual network is a network that can be created, modified, and destroyed without any interaction with physical network assets

•Network virtualization:•Decouples virtual networks from physical networks•Reproduces the physical network faithfully in the virtual network

•Automates the creation of virtual networks programmatically

What is network virtualization?

What is network virtualization?

Physical Infrastructure

Compute Virtualization Abstraction Layer

Network Virtualization Abstraction Layer

• It works on any physical hardware (only requires an IP fabric)•Decouples virtual (logical) networks from underlying physical networks (hardware independence)

•Does not require changes to applications/workloads in order to support network virtualization

•Doesn’t preclude the use of hardware support to enhance the virtualization functionality (e.g., hardware offloads)

How is it similar to compute virtualization?

•Other than jumping on the buzzword bandwagon?• It makes it easier to provision new logical networks• It makes it faster to provision new logical networks•Logical networks can be quickly created, modified, and deleted as needed without involving the physical network

• It brings network functionality closer to the workloads

Why does network virtualization matter to me?

• It actually simplifies your job as a vSphere admin•You'll be responsible for creating, modifying, and deleting virtual (logical) networks, typically from within your cloud management system

•You are abstracted away from the specific technical details of how the network provides the functionality you need for your workloads

How will network virtualization change my job?

• It actually simplifies their job•The networking group no longer needs to worry about workload provisioning tasks

• Instead, they can focus on the key values of the network in moving data from point A to point B•Performance•Reliability•Cost-effectiveness

How will network virtualization affect my networking group?

How will network virtualization affect my networking group?

WAN Internet

Compute Racks Infra Racks Edge Racks

L2

L3

What are the key components of network virtualization?

•Open vSwitch (OVS)•OpenFlow•OVSDB (and possibly OF-Config)•Network encapsulation protocols (STT, VXLAN, GRE)

What are some key technologies I should know?

Questions &answers

Thank you!Don’t forget to provide feedback to your VMUG leaders on this session.