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+--- Thread: What is the difference between an external internal and private virtual switch? (/showthread.php?tid=939)
What is the difference between an external internal and private virtual switch? - savas - 01-06-2019
When we look into the world of virtualization, understanding virtual switches is pretty crucial, especially when dealing with different networking scenarios. So, let's break down the differences between external, internal, and private virtual switches in a way that makes sense.
First off, an **external virtual switch** is like the bridge between your virtual machines (VMs) and the outside world, including the internet. Imagine you have a couple of VMs running on your machine, and you want them to access the internet or communicate with other devices on your local network. An external virtual switch connects these VMs to your physical network adapter, allowing them to talk to everything else out there. It’s perfect when you want your VMs to behave like full-fledged machines on your network, sharing resources and communicating freely.
Now, let’s talk about **internal virtual switches**. These switches are a bit more selective. They allow communication between the VMs and the host machine, but they don’t provide any access to the outside world. Picture this as a private chat between your VMs and the host. This setup is great for testing and development purposes where you want the VMs to share data with the host but don’t want them to connect to the broader network or the internet. It keeps things contained and secure, which can be really handy depending on what you’re working on.
Finally, we have **private virtual switches**. These are the most exclusive of the bunch. With a private virtual switch, communication is strictly between the VMs themselves. They can't talk to the host machine or connect to the outside world at all. This setup is ideal for scenarios where you want complete isolation. Think of it as a secret club where only the members—your VMs—can interact. It's useful for testing environments where you need to simulate certain conditions without any risk of external interference or exposure.
So, when you consider which virtual switch to use, it really comes down to the level of connectivity and isolation you need for your VMs. Each type serves a purpose, and knowing when to use each one can help streamline your virtual networking setup significantly.
I hope my post was useful. Are you new to Hyper-V and do you have a good Hyper-V backup solution? See my other post