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Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization platform where you can create multiple virtual machines on one physical host computer. This comes in handy for management purposes as well as keeping costs down because you do not need dedicated hardware for each virtual machine (VM).
Hyper-V runs on Windows Server operating systems but can also run on Windows desktop operating systems assuming you are running the professional version of the OS. It is possible to configure Hyper-V to run on Windows Home edition PCs with a little tweak.
In Hyper-V, a virtual switch is a software-based network switch that allows communication between virtual machines, as well as between VMs and the physical network. It is similar to a physical network switch where it enables network traffic to flow between connected devices, allowing VMs to communicate with each other and with external networks. In this article, we will be discussing the Hyper-V desktop edition switch\network types so you can gain a better understanding of how they differ.
To view your virtual switches, go to the Hyper-V Manager and click on Virtual Switch Manager in the Actions pane.
When you install Hyper-V, it creates a virtual switch called Default Switch and connects it to the Default Network. The image below shows how the Default Switch configuration appears and you will notice how the settings are greyed out and this is because it cannot be edited but only removed.
You can also view (and edit) the MAC address range for the Default Switch under the Global Network Settings section.
MAC (Media Access Control) addresses are unique identifiers assigned to network interface controllers at the hardware level. These addresses are used for identifying and communicating with devices on a local area network (LAN). MAC addresses play a crucial role in the process of data transmission, as they are used by network protocols such as Ethernet to determine the source and destination of data packets within a network. By using MAC addresses, devices can differentiate between each other and efficiently route data packets to their intended recipients.
Hyper-V Network Types
In Hyper-V, there are three main types of virtual networks: external, internal, and private.
- External Network – An external network in Hyper-V allows virtual machines to communicate with external networks, including other computers on the local network and the internet. This type of network is bound to a physical network adapter on the Hyper-V host, enabling VMs to access resources outside of the host. External networks are commonly used for VMs that require connectivity to the broader network, such as web servers or client computers.
- Internal Network – An internal network in Hyper-V is isolated from external networks and only allows communication between VMs and the Hyper-V host. VMs connected to an internal network can communicate with each other and the host but cannot access resources outside of the host. This type of network is useful for creating isolated testing environments, private networks for internal services, or communication between VMs without exposing them to external networks.
- Private Network – A private network in Hyper-V is the most isolated type of network and only allows communication between VMs on the same Hyper-V host. VMs connected to a private network cannot communicate with the host or other VMs on different hosts. This type of network is ideal for scenarios where complete isolation between VMs is required, such as secure development or testing environments where VMs should not have any external connectivity.
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