Network virtualization uses software to combine physical network resources or split a physical network into multiple virtual networks. It allows communication between virtual machines and devices across different locations through virtual networking tools like virtual switches and adapters. This provides benefits like more flexible provisioning, easier configuration changes, and ability to move workloads without interrupting services. Network virtualization works by splitting available bandwidth into independent channels that can be assigned to devices in real time. It enables centralized management and simplified network administration compared to physical networks.

1. NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Group Members: Sania Khalil
Fatima Anis
Ahmed Ali Cheema

2. VIRTUALIZATION
Virtualization is the creation of a virtual -- rather than actual -- version
of something, such as an operating system (OS), a server, a storage
device or network resources. Virtualization uses software that simulates
hardware functionality to create a virtual system.

3. WHAT IS
NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATIO
N?
Network virtualization is a method of combining
the available resources in a network to
consolidate multiple physical networks, divide a
network into segments or create software
networks between virtual machines (VMs).

4. NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Virtual networking enables communication between multiple computers, virtual machines(VMs), virtual servers, or
other devices across different office and data center locations. While physical networking connects computers through
cabling and other hardware, virtual networking extends these capabilities by using software management to connect
computers and servers over the Internet. It uses virtualized versions of traditional network tools, like switches and network
adapters, allowing for more efficient routing and easier network configuration changes.
Virtual networking enables devices across many locations to function with the same capabilities as a traditional physical
network. This allows for data centers to stretch across different physical locations, and gives network administrators new
and more efficient options, like the ability to easily modify the network as needs change, without having to switch out or
buy more hardware; greater flexibility in provisioning the network to specific needs and applications; and the capacity to
move workloads across the network infrastructure without compromising service, security, and availability.

5. HOW DOES IT WORK?
• Network virtualization works by combining the available resources in a
network and splitting up the available bandwidth into channels, each of
which is independent from the others and each of which can be assigned
(or reassigned) to a particular server or device in real time.
• Each channel is independently secured.
• Every subscriber has shared access to all the resources on the network
from a single computer.

6. COMPARISON BETWEEN
PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL
NETWORK
A virtual network connects virtual machines and devices, no matter their location, using software. In a physical network,
layer 2 and 3 functions of the OSI model happen within physical switches and routers. Plus, physical network interface
cards (NIC) and network adapters are used to connect computers and servers to the network. Virtual networking shifts these
and other activities to software. A software application, called a virtual switch, controls and directs communication between
the existing physical network and virtual parts of the network, like virtual machines. And a virtual network adapter allows
computers and VMs to connect to a network, including making it possible for all the machines on a local area network
(LAN) to connect to a larger network.

7. CONTINUE..
In a physical network, LANs are created to connect multiple devices to shared resources, like
network storage, usually through Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi. But virtual networking creates the
possibility for virtual LANs (VLANs), where the grouping is configured through software. This
means that computers connected to different network switches can behave as if they’re all
connected to the same one, and, conversely, computers that share cabling can be kept on
separate networks, rather than physically connecting machines using cabling equipment and
hardware.
Virtual networking delivers more centralized management and simplified network management.
Disparate parts of the network can be accessed remotely for needed updates and changes, or
even testing, making network management cheaper and easier.

8. TYPES OF NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION
Internal virtualization
• Internal virtualization is designed to use software
containers to replicate the functionality of a single
network.
• Internal virtualization refers to using network-like
functionality in software containers on a single
network server.
• Internal software allows VMs to exchange data on
a host without using an external network.
External virtualization
• External virtualization combines multiple local
networks into a single “virtual” network to
improve the network efficiency.
• External virtualization will use tools such as
switches, adapters or a network to combine one or
more networks into virtual units.

9. USES IN TESTING
In software testing, software developers use network virtualization to test software
which are under development in a simulation of the network environments in
which the software is intended to operate. As a component of application
performance engineering, network virtualization enables developers to emulate
connections between applications, services, dependencies, and end users in a
test environment without having to physically test the software on all possible
hardware or system software. The validity of the test depends on the accuracy of
the network virtualization in emulating real hardware and operating systems.

10. FUNCTIONS OF NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
•It enables the functional grouping of nodes in a virtual network.
•It enables the virtual network to share network resources.
•It allows communication between nodes in a virtual network without routing of
frames.
•It restricts management traffic.
•It enforces routing for communication between virtual networks.

11. APPLICATIONS OF
NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION
•Network virtualization may be used in the development of application testing to mimic real-world
hardware and system software.
•It helps us to integrate several physical networks into a single network or separate single physical networks
into multiple analytical networks.
•In the field of application performance engineering, network virtualization allows the simulation of
connections between applications, services, dependencies, and end-users for software testing.
•It helps us to deploy applications in a quicker time frame, thereby supporting a faster go-to-market.
•Network virtualization helps the software testing teams to derive actual results with expected instances and
congestion issues in a networked environment.

12. EXAMPLES OF NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Virtual LAN (VLAN) –
•The performance and speed of busy networks can be improved
by VLAN.
•VLAN can simplify additions or any changes to the network.

13. VLAN

14. Network Overlays –
•A framework is provided by an encapsulation protocol called
VXLAN for overlaying virtualized layer 2 networks over layer 3
networks.
•The Generic Network Virtualization Encapsulation protocol
(GENEVE) provides a new way to encapsulation designed to
provide control-plane independence between the endpoints of
the tunnel.

15. Network Virtualization Platform: VMware NSX –
•VMware NSX Data Center transports the components of
networking and security such as switching, firewalling and routing
that are defined and consumed in software.
•It transports the operational model of a virtual machine (VM) for
the network

16. ADVANTAGES
•More productive IT environments (i.e., efficient scaling).
•Improved security and recovery times.
•Faster in application delivery.
•More efficient networks.
•Reduced overall costs.

17. DISADVANTAGES OF
NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION
 It needs to manage IT in the abstract.
 It needs to coexist with physical devices in a cloud-integrated hybrid environment.
 Increased complexity.
 Increased upfront costs (investing in virtualization software).
 Need to license software.
 There may be a learning curve if IT managers are not experienced.
 Not every application and server will work in a virtualized environment.
 Availability can be an issue if an organization can’t connect to their virtualized data.

18. SOFTWARE WHICH HELPS IN
NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION
VMware NSX
Azure Virtual Network
CenturyLink Cloud Connect
VMware Anywhere from Claranet

19. ARCHITECTURE

20. The virtual networks are designed to simulate or replicate the functionalities
of traditional hardware. The network administrator will create a software-
based view of the network, which can manage and deploy network services.
The hardware, on the other hand, will only be responsible for forwarding data
packets. Network Virtualization in cloud computing ensures that hardware use
is minimized.

21. IMPORTANCE OF NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Virtualization helps move networks from inflexible, inefficient, and static to
optimized, agile, and dynamic. Modern virtual networks require keeping up with
the demands for cloud-hosted, distributed applications while tackling cyberthreats
to deliver agility and speed.
Network Virtualization enables you to deploy and update applications within
minutes. This means that there is no need to spend time provisioning the
infrastructure for supporting the new applications.

22. WHY VIRTUALIZE YOUR
NETWORK?
Boost IT Productivity: Network virtualization can reduce the cost of
purchasing and maintaining hardware, which is especially useful and logical for
organizations with burst workloads that would require over-provisioning to keep
up with demand. Also, as data volume and speed increase, the ability to scale
efficiently allows security teams to maintain better network visibility.

23. Improved Security and Recovery Times: Network virtualization software
allows organizations to control which types of traffic go through the physical network. Many
attackers rely on the fact that once they’ve breached the security perimeter, there are few, if any,
security controls in place. Network virtualization allows organizations to better combat security
threats by creating micro-perimeters within the network. With this control, known as micro-
segmentation, they can keep sensitive data within a certain virtual network that only authorized
users can openly access. For example, an organization could secure VoIP data by placing it
within its own virtual network with restricted user access. Additionally, network virtualization
software can reduce or even eliminate outages created by hardware failures and improve
disaster recovery times. Disaster recovery with traditional network hardware requires many
manual, time-intensive steps, including changing the system’s IP address and updating the
firewall. Network virtualization eliminates these steps.

24. Faster Application Delivery: Without network virtualization, network provisioning
is a time-intensive, manual process. As a result, any time an application requires you to provide
fundamental network changes, the application deployment time is extended. Moreover, the risk
of a deployment failure increases significantly when organizations perform manual
deployments. Since network virtualization automates network configuration, they can instead
cut application deployment time from weeks to minutes. Reducing deployment time can have a
significant impact on a company’s bottom line, allowing for faster new-product rollouts or
major application updates.

25. Reduces CAPEX –
The requirement to set up separate physical networks for different node groups is reduced.
Improves utilization –
Multiple VMs are enabled to share the same physical network which enhances the utilization of
network resource.
Improves manageability –
Grouping and regrouping of nodes are eased.
Configuration of VM is allowed from a centralized management workstation using
management software.

26. WIRELESS NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Wireless network virtualization can have a very broad scope ranging from spectrum sharing, infrastructure
virtualization, to air interface virtualization. Similar to wired network virtualization, in which physical
infrastructure owned by one or more providers can be shared among multiple service providers, wireless network
virtualization needs the physical wireless infrastructure and radio resources to be abstracted and isolated to a
number of virtual resources, which then can be offered to different service providers. In other words, virtualization,
regardless of wired or wireless networks, can be considered as a process splitting the entire network system.
However, the distinctive properties of the wireless environment, in terms of time-various channels, attenuation,
mobility, broadcast, etc., make the problem more complicated. Furthermore, wireless network virtualization
depends on specific access technologies, and wireless network contains much more access technologies compared
to wired network virtualization and each access technology has its characteristics, which makes convergence,
sharing and abstraction difficult to achieve. Therefore, it may be inaccurate to consider wireless network
virtualization as a subset of network virtualization.

27. SDN VS. NETWORK
VIRTUALIZATION
Network virtualization shares common elements with software-defined networking
(SDN) which can create confusion for some. For example, both share the goal of
improving the agility of network resources to VMs and consolidating or segmenting
networks.
However, SDNs focus on the separation of control and data plane as well as
programmability to improve network configurations, performance and monitoring.
SDNs do this by centralizing a network through separating the forwarding process of
network packets from routing processes. SDNs disassociate the control and data
planes.

28. CONCLUSION!!!
 Network virtualization is the disaggregation of network functions from the underlying
hardware and turning the functions into software.
 The end state of network virtualization has microservice-based network functions
running in containers on servers spread throughout a distributed cloud network.
 Major benefits of virtualization include the speed and ease of scaling network
resources, updating policies, and centralized control.
 Major challenges of virtualization include potentially shifting cost to a managed
service provider and the increased amount of network data.
 Network virtualization improves connectivity in cloud data centers and allowed
telecoms to become SD-WAN service providers.

29. REFERENCES
https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/virtual-networking.html
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/network-virtualization-in-cloud-computing/
https://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/definition/network-
virtualization

30. THANK YOU!!!!