© Copyright Lenovo 2016 341Chapter 20. VMreadyVirtualization is used to allocate server resources based on logical needs, ratherthan on strict physical structure. With appropriate hardware and software support,servers can be virtualized to host multiple instances of operating systems, knownas virtual machines (VMs). Each VM has its own presence on the network and runsits own service applications.Software known as a hypervisor manages the various virtual entities (VEs) thatreside on the host server: VMs, virtual switches, and so on. Depending on thevirtualization solution, a virtualization management server may be used toconfigure and manage multiple hypervisors across the network. With somesolutions, VMs can even migrate between host hypervisors, moving to differentphysical hosts while maintaining their virtual identity and services.The Lenovo Enterprise Network Operating System 8.4 VMready feature supportsup to 4096 VEs in a virtualized data center environment. The switch automaticallydiscovers the VEs attached to switch ports, and distinguishes between regularVMs, Service Console Interfaces, and Kernel/Management Interfaces in aVMware ® environment.VEs may be placed into VM groups on the switch to define communicationboundaries: VEs in the same VM group may communicate with each other, whileVEs in different groups may not. VM groups also allow for configuring group‐levelsettings such as virtualization policies and ACLs.The administrator can also pre‐provision VEs by adding their MAC addresses (ortheir IPv4 address or VM name in a VMware environment) to a VM group. When aVE with a pre‐provisioned MAC address becomes connected to the switch, theswitch will automatically apply the appropriate group membership configuration.The G8264 with VMready also detects the migration of VEs across differenthypervisors. As VEs move, the G8264 NMotion ™ feature automatically moves theappropriate network configuration as well. NMotion gives the switch the ability tomaintain assigned group membership and associated policies, even when a VEmoves to a different port on the switch.VMready also works with VMware Virtual Center (vCenter) managementsoftware. Connecting with a vCenter allows the G8264 to collect information aboutmore distant VEs, synchronize switch and VE configuration, and extend migrationproperties.Note: VM groups and policies, VE pre‐provisioning, and VE migration featuresare not supported simultaneously on the same ports as vNICs (see Chapter 19,“Virtual NICs”).
