20 VMware NSX Interview Questions and Answers

VMware NSX is a software-defined networking platform that helps organizations manage and automate their network infrastructure. If you are applying for a position that involves working with VMware NSX, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience and knowledge of the platform. In this article, we review some of the most common VMware NSX interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

VMware NSX Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked VMware NSX interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is VMware NSX?

VMware NSX is a software-defined networking solution that enables the creation of virtual networks in a VMware vSphere environment. NSX provides a complete set of networking and security features for virtualized workloads, including logical switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers. NSX is deployed as a virtual appliance on each ESXi host in a vSphere environment and is managed through a vCenter Server instance.

2. Can you explain what an overlay network is in the context of a VMware NSX implementation?

An overlay network is a network that is created on top of another network, typically a physical network. In the context of a VMware NSX implementation, an overlay network is a virtual network that is created on top of a physical network infrastructure. This virtual network is then used to provide connectivity for virtual machines (VMs) and other devices in the NSX environment.

3. How does encapsulation work with VMware NSX?

Encapsulation with VMware NSX is the process of wrapping data in a layer of security before it is sent over the network. This ensures that only authorized users can access the data, and that it cannot be tampered with in transit.

4. What are some common use cases for VMware NSX?

VMware NSX is a network virtualization platform that can be used in a variety of different ways. Some common use cases include creating virtual networks, providing network security, and automating network tasks.

5. What’s the difference between VMware NSX-V and VMware NSX-T? Which one would you recommend using?

The main difference between VMware NSX-V and VMware NSX-T is that NSX-T is designed for use with non-vSphere environments, while NSX-V is designed specifically for vSphere environments. If you’re not using vSphere, then NSX-T is the obvious choice. If you are using vSphere, then it really depends on your specific needs and preferences.

6. Why do you think it makes sense to virtualize your network components like routers, switches, and load balancers?

There are a few reasons why virtualizing network components can be beneficial. First, it can help to improve resource utilization since you can run multiple virtualized components on a single physical device. Second, it can improve flexibility and agility since you can quickly provision and deploy new virtualized components as needed. Finally, it can improve security and isolation since each virtualized component can be isolated from the others.

7. What is microsegmentation?

Microsegmentation is a security technique that involves dividing a network into smaller segments in order to better protect the data and devices within it. By creating smaller segments, it becomes much more difficult for attackers to move laterally within the network and reach their desired target. Additionally, microsegmentation can help to isolate problems and contain them within a single segment, preventing them from spreading throughout the entire network.

8. What is a Service Composer in the context of VMware NSX?

A Service Composer is a tool that allows administrators to quickly and easily create, modify, and delete network services for their VMware NSX environment. With Service Composer, administrators can create new services or modify existing ones without having to manually edit or create any configuration files. This makes it much easier to manage a complex VMware NSX environment.

9. What is a Security Group in the context of VMware NSX?

A security group is a logical container used to group together a set of virtual machines (VMs) or other objects that share common security requirements. Security groups allow you to specify a security policy once and apply it to multiple objects, rather than having to configure each object individually.

10. Can you explain how you would implement a firewall in the context of VMware NSX?

There are a few different ways to implement a firewall in VMware NSX. One way would be to use the NSX Edge service, which provides a firewall as a service. Another way would be to use the NSX Distributed Firewall, which is a distributed firewall that is deployed across the hypervisor.

11. What are logical routers?

A logical router is a software appliance in VMware NSX that provides routing services to virtual machines in a network. A logical router consists of a control plane and a data plane. The control plane manages the routing tables and handles the traffic forwarding between virtual machines. The data plane consists of a set of virtual switch ports that connect the logical router to the virtual machines in the network.

12. What are logical switches?

A logical switch is a virtual switch that is created in software and exists independently of the physical network infrastructure. Logical switches provide the same features and functionality as physical switches, but they are not limited by the physical constraints of the underlying hardware. This makes them ideal for use in virtualized environments, where they can be used to create isolated virtual networks.

13. What is the role of Edge Services Gateway (ESG) in the context of VMware NSX?

The Edge Services Gateway is a key component of the VMware NSX platform. It provides a number of essential functions, including routing, firewall, VPN, and load balancing. The ESG is typically deployed at the edge of the network, where it can provide these services to the devices and users that are trying to connect to the network.

14. What is the role of Distributed Firewall (DFW) in the context of VMware NSX?

The Distributed Firewall is a key component of the VMware NSX platform. It is a distributed firewall that is implemented as a software module on the NSX Controller. The DFW provides centralized visibility and control over the firewall policies that are applied to the virtual machines in a VMware NSX environment. It also allows for the creation of security policies that can be applied to groups of virtual machines, rather than having to configure each individual VM’s firewall settings.

15. What is the role of Cross vCenter Networking and Security (CNS) in the context of VMware NSX?

CNS provides a way to manage and configure NSX across multiple vCenter servers from a single location. This can be helpful in a number of scenarios, such as when you need to manage a large number of vCenter servers or when you have vCenter servers in different geographical locations. CNS provides a way to manage NSX from a central location, which can make administration simpler and more efficient.

16. What are DHCP Relays used for?

DHCP Relays are used to forward DHCP requests from clients to a DHCP server on a different network. This allows for the DHCP server to be centrally located and simplifies administration.

17. What are distributed NATs used for?

Distributed NATs are used to allow multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address. This is often used in situations where a company has a limited number of public IP addresses and needs to conserve them.

18. What is Dynamic Routing Protocol (DRP)?

DRP is a routing protocol that is used to dynamically discover and update the route information for a network. It is often used in conjunction with other routing protocols, such as BGP, to provide a more complete picture of the network.

19. What is a Tier0 Gateway?

A Tier0 Gateway is a logical router in VMware NSX that provides connectivity between different segments in a network. It is a fully distributed, stateful, and scalable router that can perform both Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding.

20. What is a Tier1 Gateway?

A Tier1 Gateway is a logical router in VMware NSX that provides connectivity between different segments in a network. It is a fully distributed, stateful, and scalable router that can perform both Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding.