Mjukvaruväxlar

Mjukvaruväxlar, often translated as software switches or virtual switches, are a fundamental component in modern computer networking and cloud computing. They operate at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, enabling communication between virtual machines (VMs) and between VMs and the physical network. Unlike physical network switches that use dedicated hardware, mjukvaruväxlar are implemented entirely in software running on a host machine's operating system.

The primary function of a mjukvaruväxel is to forward network packets between different network interfaces or ports, much like a physical switch. In a virtualized environment, each VM typically has one or more virtual network interfaces that connect to a mjukvaruväxel. This allows VMs to communicate with each other as if they were connected to the same physical network, even if they reside on different physical hosts. Mjukvaruväxlar also facilitate the connection of VMs to the external physical network through a virtual network interface connected to a physical network adapter.

Popular examples of mjukvaruväxlar include Open vSwitch, Linux bridge, and Hyper-V Virtual Switch. These implementations offer various features such as VLAN tagging for network segmentation, quality of service (QoS) controls, traffic mirroring, and advanced policy enforcement. The flexibility and programmability of mjukvaruväxlar are key advantages, allowing for dynamic configuration and management of network topologies in cloud platforms and software-defined networking (SDN) environments. They reduce reliance on physical hardware, offering cost savings and increased agility in network deployment and modification.