VMware

Technical resources for virtual network are as follows.

 

New with vSphere 5.0

What’s New in VMware vSphere 5.0–Networking
This paper provides an introduction to the new networking features and capabilities introduced with vSphere 5.0.

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New with vSphere 4.1

What’s New in VMware vSphere 4.1–Networking
This paper provides an introduction to the new networking features and capabilities introduced with vSphere 4.1.

VMware Network I/O Control: Architecture, Performance and Best Practices
This paper details the use cases, technology, implementation, and best practices for Network I/O Control (NetIOC) introduced on the vNetwork Distributed Switch with vSphere 4.1. The paper also presents results from a number of benchmarks that illustrate the use cases and benefits of NetIOC.

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vNetwork Distributed Switching

Deploying 10 Gigabit Ethernet on VMware vSphere 4.0 with Cisco Nexus 1000V, VMware vNetwork Standard, and Distributed Switches
10 Gigabit Ethernet networking enables vSphere users to improve network performance while simplifying and reducing the management burden of the physical infrastructure. This paper provides design guidance and examples for the physical and virtual network for customers using 10GigE with VMware vSS, vDS, and Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switches.

Virtual Networking Features of the VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch and Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switches (updated for 4.0u1)
This document presents a feature matrix of the vNetwork Standard Switch, vNetwork Distributed Switch, and Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch for vSphere 4. The matrix is updated for vSphere 4.0u1 (ESX4.0u1) and Cisco Nexus 1000V Release 1.2

Guidelines for Implementing VMware vSphere 4 with the Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switch
This paper describes additional vSphere 4 product and feature considerations when planning a Cisco Nexus 1000V deployment.

VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch: Migration and Configuration
This guide is intended to help users understand the various scenarios and considerations for migration to the vNetwork Distributed Switch (vDS). It also includes a step-by-step guide on migration from a Standard Switch environment to a vDS environment.

DMZ Virtualization Using VMware vSphere 4 and the Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Switch
This paper tackles the subject of DMZ security and virtualization. It covers a number of DMZ security requirements and scenarios, presenting how vSphere users can implement the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch in a DMZ.

What’s New in VMware vSphere 4: Virtual Networking
This document describes the major vNetwork technology enhancements introduced with vSphere.

VMware vSphere 4: Deployment Methods for the VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch
Understand the options and methods available to deploy a vNetwork Distributed Switch (vDS) over a number of hosts. Understand whether Host Profiles or the vDS gui is most appropriate for deploying vDS for your environment.

More information on the VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch
Discover the rich features of the vNetwork Distributed Switch that can simplify virtual machine networking.

More information on the Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Virtual Switch
Follow this link to learn more about how Cisco Nexus 1000V uses the third party virtual switch framework within vSphere to provide a rich set of features and capabilities consistent with physical Cisco Catalyst and Cisco Nexus switches.

VMware and Cisco Resources
Learn how VMware and Cisco are collaborating and advancing virtualization and virtual networking. This link takes you to the VMware and Cisco joint resources page.

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Network Performance

Performance Evaluation of VMXNET3 Virtual Network Device
This paper compares the networking performance of VMXNET3 to that of enhanced VMXNET2 (the previous generation of high performance virtual network device) on VMware vSphere 4 to help users understand the performance benefits of migrating to this next‐generation device.

10Gbps Networking Performance on ESX 3.5 Update 1
Results from VMware network throughput experiments with 10GigE NICs on ESX hosts.

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Documentation

VMware vSphere 4 documentation
Full list of documentation for vSphere 4. Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the ESX Configuration Guide has extensive information on configuring vNetwork Standard Switches and vNetwork Distributed Switches, plus best practices and troubleshooting virtual networking in ESX 4.

VMware Infrastructure 3 documentation
Full list of documentation for VMware Infrastructure 3 product line organized by editions and server type. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the ESX Server 3 Configuration Guide have extensive information on configuring and troubleshooting networking in ESX 3.x.

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Take the Next Step

Learn more about utilizing virtual network components and configuring virtual networks, or learn more about the networking capabilities of VMware vSphere.