SDN and NFV Simplified: A Visual Guide to Understanding Software Defined Networks and Network Function Virtualization

6. Virtual Machine Connectivity

Up until now, this book has considered virtualization purely as a method to consolidate servers and leverage efficiency from hosting VMs on fewer servers in the data center. Indeed, the approach has been completely server and application centric. Perhaps you have the impression that all that needs to be done to virtualize the data center infrastructure is to start deploying a vendor’s hypervisor software. Once done, you can simply go about creating and deploying virtual machines (VMs) to your heart’s content, while simultaneously ripping out servers that are now surplus to requirements.

Unfortunately, there is a rather large problem that prevents you from charging ahead with data center virtualization that way. ...