What is a Virtual Switch
A Virtual Switch is a virtual networking component that allows you to connect Cloud Servers and other compatible resources within a private network.
Resources connected to the same Virtual Switch can communicate with each other using private IP addresses.
How the Virtual Switch works
A Virtual Switch performs a function in the virtual infrastructure similar to that of an Ethernet switch in a physical network: it connects the network interfaces of the associated resources and allows traffic within the private network.
To enable communication between multiple Cloud Servers, connect their network interfaces to the same Virtual Switch and assign each interface a unique private IP address belonging to the same network.
Choosing the IP address and netmask for the private network
To create a private network, you must choose an IP addressing scheme. The IP addresses assigned to the interfaces connected to the Virtual Switch must be private IPv4 addresses belonging to one of the address ranges reserved for private networks:
- 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 (10.0.0.0/8);
- 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 (172.16.0.0/12);
- 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 (192.168.0.0/16).
These addresses are intended for use in private networks and are not routable on the public Internet. Therefore, you must not use a public IP address purchased from Aruba Cloud to connect to the Virtual Switch.
You must also choose a subnet and its corresponding netmask. The Cloud Servers you want to connect must use unique private IP addresses belonging to the same network and the same netmask.
For example, you can use the
192.168.0.0/24 network, with the
255.255.255.0 netmask, and assign:
- the address 192.168.0.1 to the first Cloud Server;
- the address 192.168.0.2 to the second Cloud Server;
- other unique IP addresses belonging to the same network to any additional Cloud Servers.
The 192.168.0.0/24 network, the 255.255.255.0 netmask and the IP addresses shown are examples only and are not assigned by Aruba Cloud. You can use a different private IP addressing scheme depending on your network configuration.
Resources that can be connected to the Virtual Switch
You can connect the following resources to the Virtual Switch:
- OpenStack Cloud Server;
- VMware Cloud Server;
- Unified Storage.
The Virtual Switch is not available for Cloud Servers (VDC) or Cloud VPS.
Network interfaces that can be connected to the Virtual Switch
You can connect only Cloud Server network interfaces that have not been assigned a public IP address through the Control Panel to a Virtual Switch.
A network interface that has been assigned a public IP address cannot be connected to a Virtual Switch. Similarly, a network interface already connected to a Virtual Switch cannot be assigned a public IP address through the Control Panel.