What is a Virtual Network

What is a Virtual Network?

The Internet has already become a part of our daily lives, yet some people still need to learn what is a virtual network. The concept of virtual networking revolves around various organizations and individuals that are connected via computers and servers through software and wireless technologies. This innovative design has enabled everyone to benefit from countless advantages, available not only on-site but even from remote locations to investigate and troubleshoot problematic obstacles.

A Beginner’s Guide to Virtual Network

The answer to your question, ‘What is a virtual network?’ isn’t as simple as it sounds. A sturdy digital matrix of all the devices, servers, virtual machines, and data centers should exist to ensure peak efficiency as far as it is needed, along with providing numerous other benefits.

The limitlessness of the Internet has truly been a blessing that interlinks us through innovative technologies all over the world. For instance, cloud service providers offer third-party networking services to many companies across the globe, which is sometimes referred to as networking-as-a-service or NaaS. Such advancements have allowed us to shift from the traditional types of wired networks, which are:

  • Local Area Network, abbreviated as LAN, is reachable within a domain of a single building.
  • Wide Area Network, referred to as WAN, in which the network is reachable up to a peak limit of half a mile.

How Does a Virtual Network Work?

Utilization of wireless technologies creates extended virtual networking, which includes:

  • vSwitch Software
  • Network Virtualization software on host servers provides you with an opportunity to set up and configure what is virtual network.

  • Virtual Network Adapter
  • It is software that operates like a physical network adapter within the host operating system (OS) and creates a gateway between networks.

  • Physical Network
  • Physical networks are mandatory hosts to the infrastructures of virtual networks.

  • Servers
  • In general, servers are robust computer systems designed to provide their users and clients with resources, data, services, and programs over a network. It is the major part of the network host infrastructure.

  • Virtual Equipment
  • Several machines and devices are available to provide the network with efficient variations in their functionality.

    Different Versions of Virtual Network

    Learning about what is a virtual network can be simplified even more by studying these broad classifications, which are:

  • Virtual Private Network
  • A virtual private network, abbreviated as VPN, provides its users with the convenience to log in from anywhere to have access to the physical networks that are interlinked with each other. It ensures secure browsing by masking internet usage on public Wi-Fi.

    A VPN is created when data attached to the packets comprise routing information that takes users to the applicable addresses. While VPNs are provided with a small cope, the increased probability of remote access to this information is a result of the creation of a tunnel of these addresses that allows efficient encryption of browsing history.

  • Virtual Local Area Network
  • Virtual Local Area Network, shortened to VLAN, utilized segmentation techniques to categorize devices on a LAN into domains with resources and configurations that are applicable to each of them.

    Its usage allows better security, monitoring, and management of the devices and servers within a specific domain. This is particularly true for large networks that may be more vulnerable to attack when domains are not in use and monitored individually.

  • Virtual Extensible Local Area Network
  • Commonly known as VXLAN, endpoints are created for each tunnel via virtual switches. Data is routed between these endpoints via another piece of technology called a physical or virtual base case.

    Final Thoughts

    After learning what is a virtual network, it can be concluded that it is an evolution in the world of technologies that address the need for remote accessibility, security, flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. As it plays a significant role in a digital model, the valuable benefits of saving time, money, and resources ensure that its diversity is meeting all the professional needs of your business.

    Back to blog