Cisco-AVS (Cisco Application Virtual Switch) is a software-based virtual switch designed by Cisco Systems to enhance network capabilities in virtualized environments. Here's a detailed look into its functionalities, history, and context:
Overview
Cisco-AVS provides:
- Advanced networking features like QoS (Quality of Service), security policies, and traffic management within virtualized data centers.
- Seamless integration with existing Cisco Nexus hardware, allowing for a consistent policy framework across physical and virtual environments.
- Support for VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and other hypervisors.
History and Development
The development of Cisco-AVS can be traced back to:
- 2013: Cisco announced its first foray into software-defined networking (SDN) with the introduction of Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC). This laid the groundwork for a more integrated approach to network virtualization.
- 2014: The first version of Cisco-AVS was released, aiming to provide a software layer that could manage network policies in a virtualized environment, reducing the complexity of network administration in data centers.
- 2016: Cisco enhanced Cisco-AVS with better integration capabilities with other Cisco networking products, ensuring a more seamless transition for enterprises moving towards virtualization.
- 2018 and Beyond: Continuous updates focused on performance improvements, support for new hypervisors, and integration with emerging cloud technologies.
Key Features
Cisco-AVS includes several key features:
- Policy-based Automation: Allows for the application of network policies automatically as virtual machines are created or moved.
- Micro-segmentation: Provides the ability to segment networks at a very granular level, enhancing security by isolating workloads.
- Consistent Network Policy: Ensures that network policies are consistently applied regardless of where the VM resides, whether on physical or virtual infrastructure.
- Advanced Analytics: Offers deep insights into network traffic, aiding in troubleshooting and optimization.
Context in Modern Data Centers
In the context of modern data centers, Cisco-AVS addresses several challenges:
- Virtualization: As businesses increasingly adopt virtualization, Cisco-AVS helps manage the network complexity that arises from virtual machine mobility and scaling.
- Cloud Integration: It supports hybrid cloud environments, allowing for consistent policy enforcement across on-premises and cloud data centers.
- Security: With micro-segmentation, it enhances security by controlling network access at a much finer level than traditional network segmentation.
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