Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) NetworkingNetworking FundamentalsHard
A network technician is setting up a new virtualized environment on a single physical server. They need to configure multiple virtual machines (VMs) to communicate with each other and also with the external physical network using a single physical network interface card (NIC) on the host. Which networking component allows the VMs to share the physical NIC and communicate as if they were on a physical network segment?
- AVirtual Load Balancer
- BVirtual Firewall
- CVirtual Switch
- DVirtual Router
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Virtual Switch
A virtual switch (vSwitch) is a software-based network device that enables virtual machines on the same host to communicate with each other and with the external physical network via the host's physical NIC. It functions similarly to a physical switch, forwarding traffic between VMs and bridging to the physical network.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A virtual load balancer distributes incoming network traffic across multiple virtual servers, which is a higher-level function than basic VM connectivity.
- B. A virtual firewall filters traffic for security purposes, not for enabling basic connectivity and NIC sharing among VMs.
- D. A virtual router performs routing functions between different virtual networks or subnets, not primarily for sharing a single NIC among VMs.
Virtual Switch (vSwitch)
A virtual switch is a software application that allows communication between virtual machines on the same host, and often between virtual machines and the external physical network.
- Operates like a physical switch but entirely in software within a hypervisor.
- Connects virtual network adapters of VMs to virtual ports.
- Can bridge to a physical NIC to provide external network access.
Memory trick: Virtual Switches Share Seamlessly.