Using the CHARON-SSP Agent in conjunction with the CHARON-SSP Manager it is possible to configure a collection of virtual network tap (TAP) devices that constitute a host-attached virtual LAN. These interfaces are bridged with a physical network device on the host system that allows the virtual LAN to connect to the physical LAN.
Creating a Virtual Network
To create a new virtual network, follow the instructions listed below.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Follow the menu path Tools > Virtual Network > Create Virtual Network to open the Create Virtual Network window, shown below.
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| 2. | Select the host adapter to bridge the virtual network devices with from the Virtual bridge interface drop-down list. |
| 3. | In the field labelled Number of the virtual adapters enter the number of virtual network adapters to create. |
| 4. | Click the button labelled OK to create the specified number of virtual network adapters.
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The instructions detailed above will create a series of TAP devices, named tap0 to tapN-1, where N is the value specified in the field Number of the virtual adapters. Theses devices can then be configured for use as virtual Ethernet controllers.
Deleting a Virtual Network
To delete a virtual network, follow the instructions listed below.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Follow the menu path Tools > Virtual Network > Delete Virtual Network to open the Delete Virtual Network window, shown below.
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| 2. | Select the physical interface serving the bridge from the Virtual bridge interface drop-down box. |
| 3. | To delete all virtual network interfaces associated with this bridge, click the button labelled OK. |
The instructions detailed above will immediately delete all TAP devices associated with physical interface selected in Virtual bridge interface.
Resizing a Virtual Network
To resize a virtual network, follow the instructions listed below.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Stop all virtual machine connected to the virtual network TAP devices. |
| 2. | Delete the current virtual network, using the instructions detailed in Deleting a Virtual Network. |
| 3. | Re-create the virtual network using the instructions detailed in Creating a Virtual Network. Ensure to specify the the new virtual network size in the field labelled Number of the virtual adapters. |
| 4. | Reconfigure the Ethernet configuration of the virtual machines. This step is only necessary when shrinking the virtual network and only if they are configured for TAP devices that no longer exist. |
| 5. | Restart the attached virtual machines. |
It is not recommended to shrink a virtual network as this can mean potentially having to adjust a number of virtual machine configurations.