Hyper-V Virtualizes Networks

As organizations use virtualization to optimize their data centers, the increasing number of virtual machines (VMs), combined with the need to move VMs to best utilize server resources, is straining existing network technologies. To improve the scalability and reliability of VM networks, and to facilitate the movement of VMs within and between data centers, Microsoft has added network virtualization support to Hyper-V. Although network virtualization makes it easier to move VMs, customers need to keep in mind that this technology is still evolving, and moving VMs must be performed in compliance with the applicable licensing agreements.

What Is Hyper-V Network Virtualization?

Windows Server Hyper-V has always supported the creation of virtual local area networks (VLANs), which can be used to provide secure networks between VMs that need to communicate with each other. By assigning VMs to a VLAN, the virtual network switch in the hypervisor and the physical network switches can securely isolate traffic on the VLAN to VMs that share a common VLAN ID. But the number of VLANs that can be created is limited, which affects network scalability, and adding or changing VLAN IDs often requires reconfiguring VMs and network hardware, which is prone to errors that affect network reliability.