Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) v1.2VirtualizationHard
A network engineer is implementing a virtualized data center using a Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch. The engineer needs to configure security policies, QoS settings, and monitoring features consistently across all ESXi hosts where the 1000V is deployed. Which component of the Cisco Nexus 1000V architecture is primarily responsible for centralizing the control plane and management plane functions?
- AVirtual Ethernet Module (VEM)
- BUplink Ethernet Port-channel
- CVirtual Supervisor Module (VSM)
- DVirtual Network Adapters (vNICs)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Virtual Supervisor Module (VSM)
The Virtual Supervisor Module (VSM) is the centralized control and management plane for the Cisco Nexus 1000V. It runs as a virtual appliance in the vSphere environment and is responsible for configuring and managing all Virtual Ethernet Modules (VEMs) deployed on the ESXi hosts. The VSM pushes policies, QoS, security, and monitoring settings down to the VEMs, ensuring consistent application across the entire virtual switch domain.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The VEM is the dataplane component residing on each ESXi host, forwarding traffic based on VSM's instructions.
- B. Uplink Ethernet Port-channels are physical connections from the ESXi host to the physical network, managed by the VEM under VSM's control.
- D. vNICs are virtual network interfaces on VMs, not a component of the 1000V architecture itself.
Cisco Nexus 1000V VSM
The Virtual Supervisor Module (VSM) is the control and management plane of the Cisco Nexus 1000V distributed virtual switch.
- Runs as a virtual appliance on an ESXi host.
- Provides centralized configuration, management, and monitoring for all VEMs.
- Ensures consistent application of network policies (security, QoS) across the virtualized environment.
Memory trick: Nexus 1000V: VSM Controls VEMs.