network virtualization

network virtualization

(1) Segmenting a network into separate entities. See VLAN.

(2) Using virtualization techniques to perform network functions. See NFV.

(3) Monitoring and managing a large network from a single administrator's console. It often encompasses storage virtualization, which manages storage as a single resource (see storage virtualization). In its most advanced form, network virtualization treats all servers in the network as a single pool of resources that can be rearranged in real time to meet changing user and transaction requirements. See virtualization, software-defined networking, NFV and peer-to-peer computing.

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