vde2

Virtual Distributed Ethernet

VDE is a virtual switch that can connect multiple virtual machines together, both local and remote. Components of the VDE architecture are VDE switches (virtual counterpart of ethernet switches) and VDE cables (virtual counterpart of a crossed-cable used to connect two switches). VDE 2 includes: - switch management both from console and from a "unix socket terminal" - VLAN 801.1q - FSTP (fast spanning tree) - distributed cable manager using a blowfish encrypted channel - wire packet filter to emulate delays and packet loss on virtual wires Examples of VDE uses: - With VDE it is possible to create a virtual network of QEMU machines running on several real computer - VDE can be used to create tunnels (even crossing masqueraded networks) - VDE can provide mobility support The VDE also provides bi-directional pipe command (dpipe) and remote terminal for unix sockets (unixterm). The Debian package provides a nice extension for /etc/network/interfaces file for easy set up.