Networking Capabilities

vtServer, the Hypervisor, allows you to run multiple virtual Alpha and VAX occurrences on the same host computer. It provides additional services to make sure all these instances can work with the (possibly limited amount of) network links that are present in the host. For example, Blade servers typically offer only a few (high bandwidth) network links.

The AVTware product allows network configurations from simple setups to more powerful setups that use AVTware virtual network switches, bonding devices and VLAN support; in various combinations, summarized here:

(A) Basic setup: the straight forward coupling of a virtual Alpha or VAX network adapter to any host adapter. It is the basic network setup. It also supports VLAN allowing an organization to carve up their physical network infrastructure into multiple logical networks that can run in parallel.

(B) The next option involves the Virtual Network Switch(es) that vtServer offers. This allows multiple virtual Alpha and VAX network links to be combined across a single host link. Host line fail-over is also supported, as well as VLAN.

(C) A Virtual Network Switch does not necessarily need a host link. They are able serve in-host links between the vtAlpha and vtVAX instances on that host without occupying a host adapter.

(D) The Virtual Bond Device can distribute one virtual network link across multiple host links, offering seven levels, grading from line fail-over to load balancing.

(E) A combination of Virtual Network Switches and Bond Devices can group multiple virtual network links to one Bond Device. This host link is used for physical distribution across the available host links.

(F) Combines the network link to manage the vtServer host, without occupying a dedicated host link.