vCloud NFV 3.0 introduces a new networking fabric. It is called NSX-T Virtual Distributed Switch or N-VDS. N-VDS operates in two modes.

  • Standard mode (N-VDS Standard). In the standard mode, N-VDS supports overlay and VLAN-backed networking. In this mode the resources that N-VDS uses are pooled together with other compute and networking resources that the virtualization layer uses.

  • Enhanced data path mode (N-VDS Enhanced). This mode is aimed at high data-plane workloads that require accelerated networking performance and dedicated networking resources.

N-VDS Enhanced is an efficient virtual networking stack that leverages industry advances such as Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK). By using the DPDK principles, N-VDS Enhanced uses significantly less CPU resources to achieve higher packet throughput rates compared to previous releases of vCloud NFV. N-VDS Enhanced uses dedicated CPU resources assigned to its networking processes. This ensures that the amount of resources that are dedicated to the platform’s virtual networking is predetermined by the administrator. The second benefit of this approach is that the amount of the resources that are dedicated to the virtual networking stack are clearly separated between the virtualization platform and the Virtual Network Function (VNF). The result of this approach is a simplified configuration for data plane intensive VNF Components (VNF-Cs) as well as resource usage predictability.

The workload acceleration capabilities of vCloud NFV are contained within the virtualization layer. This approach, as opposed to a user-space implementation, provides several important benefits to the user:

  • Security. The accelerated networking stack exists entirely within the hypervisor and is therefore not susceptible to the manipulations to which user-space processes are exposed.

  • Feature support. Existing platform capabilities and features such as vMotion and DRS continue to function with the new networking stack.

  • Zero workload impact. NSX-T Data Center and N-VDS are transparent to the workloads running on top of the virtual layer. Data plane intensive workloads that leverage DPDK are not required to make any changes to their applications to leverage N-VDS.