====== Virtual Network ====== [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go up to Terms and Definitions]] ===== Discussion ===== A Virtual Network represents communication relationships among participating entities independently of the physical network used to realize those relationships. A Virtual Network may connect [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:n:node|Nodes]], [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:t:twin_realization|Twin Realizations]], services, or other communicating entities. The Virtual Network may define a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:n:network_topology|Network Topology]] and may associate communication characteristics or parameters with the communication relationships represented by that topology. The term does not imply a particular realization technology. A Virtual Network may be realized using physical networks, software-defined networking, overlays, cloud networking, container networking, middleware, or combinations of these mechanisms. ===== Definition ===== //a network representation that establishes communication relationships among participating entities independently of the physical network used to realize those relationships// ===== Source ===== Derived from the DIDO-TE source material describing Virtual Networks that communicatively couple distributed Nodes and represent communication conditions independently of physical separation. ===== Note ===== A Virtual Network is an architectural representation of communication relationships. It is not synonymous with a particular product-specific construct such as a cloud virtual private network, VLAN, software-defined network, or container network. ===== Example ===== A DIDO-TE Test Environment may use a Virtual Network to represent communication among three Nodes even when the Nodes execute on infrastructure located in different physical facilities. ---- © 2026 Dido Solutions, Inc. and Jackrabbit Consulting, Inc.