Virtual Networking

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What Does Virtual Networking Mean?

Virtual networking is a technology that facilitates data communication between two or more virtual machines (VM). It is similar to traditional computer networking but provides interconnection between VMs, virtual servers and other related components in a virtualized computing environment.

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Techopedia Explains Virtual Networking

Virtual networking is based on physical computer networking principles, but its functions are mostly software-driven. In a virtual networking environment, each VM is assigned a software-based virtual Ethernet card with separate media access control (MAC) and IP addresses. The VMs communicate by addressing the specified IP address of each destination VM. Similarly, a virtual local area network(VLAN) is created through software-based virtual switches that provide network communication between all virtual and connected machines.

Virtual networking also may be implemented on VMs that are installed or deployed on network/Internet-enabled physical servers or PCs.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.