VXLAN is a technology that helps improve traditional Ethernet by making it more scalable and isolated. It creates a virtual network within the existing IP network and sends traditional Ethernet frames in UDP packets. This means that VXLAN can be used without making big changes to the network infrastructure.

VXLAN uses a 24-bit identifier called VNI to identify different virtual networks. This allows multiple virtual networks to exist at the same time. The destination MAC address of the VXLAN packet is changed to match the MAC address of the virtual machine or physical host on the VXLAN network. This enables communication between virtual machines. VXLAN also supports multipath transport (MP-BGP EVPN) and keeps different tenants isolated in the network.

How VXLAN works

The working principle of VXLAN can be divided into two simple processes: encapsulation and decapsulation.

Encapsulation: When a virtual machine (VM) sends an Ethernet frame, the VXLAN module puts the Ethernet frame inside a UDP packet. The packet's source IP address is the IP address of the host where the VM is located, and the destination IP address is the IP address of the remote endpoint of the VXLAN tunnel. The VNI field in the VXLAN header identifies the target virtual network. Then, the UDP message is sent to the underlying network and reaches the target host.

Decapsulation: When a VXLAN packet is received, the VXLAN module examines the UDP packet header and extracts the encapsulated Ethernet frame. By checking the VNI field, the VXLAN module can determine the target virtual network and deliver the Ethernet frame to the appropriate virtual machine or physical host.

By using encapsulation and decapsulation, VXLAN can transmit Ethernet frames on the underlying network while providing a logically isolated virtual network.

Advantages of VXLAN

VXLAN, as a new technology for network virtualization, offers several advantages in data center networks:

1. Scalability: VXLAN uses 24-bit VNI identifiers, allowing for the support of up to 16,777,216 virtual networks. Each virtual network can have its own independent Layer 2 namespace. This scalability is crucial for meeting the requirements of large-scale data centers and enabling isolation among multiple tenants.

2. Cross-subnet communication: In traditional Ethernet networks, crossing different subnets requires reliance on Layer 3 routers for forwarding. However, VXLAN utilizes the underlying IP network as the transmission medium, enabling cross-subnet communication within the virtual network. This means that virtual machines can migrate freely without the need to change their IP addresses.

3. Flexibility: VXLAN can be seamlessly integrated into existing network infrastructure without the need for extensive network reconstruction. It is compatible with commonly used network equipment and protocols, such as switches, routers, and BGP. This flexibility simplifies the process of building and managing virtual networks, making it more efficient.

4. Multi-path transmission: VXLAN incorporates the advantages of multi-path transmission (MP-BGP EVPN) to achieve load balancing and redundancy in the data center network. It can intelligently select the optimal path for data transmission based on network load and path availability, resulting in improved performance and reliability.

Application of VXLAN in Data Center Network

VXLAN has many different uses in data center networks. Here are some common applications:

1. Moving virtual machines: With VXLAN, virtual machines can be moved between different physical hosts without changing their IP addresses. This flexibility is important for load balancing, resource management, and fault tolerance in the data center.

2. Separating tenants: VXLAN divides the data center into multiple virtual networks using different VNIs. This separation ensures that each tenant has their own network policy and quality of service, while also providing data security and privacy.

3. Connecting multiple data centers: VXLAN can be extended to connect different data centers, allowing for virtual network connections between them. This feature supports resource sharing, business expansion, and disaster recovery backup.

4. Cloud service providers: VXLAN helps cloud service providers build scalable virtualized network infrastructure. It allows for flexible virtual network services and supports resource isolation and security in a multi-tenant environment.

5. Virtual Network Function (VNF): By combining VXLAN with Network Function Virtualization (NFV), virtual network functions can be deployed and managed. VXLAN serves as the underlying network virtualization technology, providing flexible network connections and isolation for VNFs. This enables rapid deployment and elastic expansion of network functions.

In conclusion

VXLAN, as a new technology for virtualizing data center networks, offers great scalability, flexibility, and isolation. It presents innovative solutions and possibilities for the future development of data center networks. By employing VXLAN, data centers can achieve tasks like virtual machine migration, isolating multiple tenants, establishing connections between different data centers, and receiving support from cloud service providers. The operational principles and advantages of VXLAN make it a crucial technology in constructing high-performance, dependable, and secure data center networks.

With the continuous growth of cloud computing and big data applications, data center networks will encounter more challenges and requirements. VXLAN, as one of the future trends in data center network development, will continue to evolve and enhance itself to meet the changing service demands. It will contribute to the innovation and progress of data center networks.

Security: VXLAN provides tunnel encryption, which ensures the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted over the underlying IP network. By utilizing security protocols like IPsec or a virtual private network (VPN), VXLAN can offer a higher level of data transmission security.

Explore endless opportunities with VXLAN, transforming the flexibility, scalability, and security of your small and medium system integration projects. Visit theHi-Networkwebsite today to discover our VXLAN solutions and start your journey towards a more efficient and dependable network transformation!

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