WHAT TO EXPECT
In this article, users will learn how to determine the best xNIC type to be installed.
xNIC Types
xNIC comes in different types, but if not specified differently, the default will be xNIC Type 2. This xNIC type is faster and should always be used unless kernel bypass interferes with the function of the application, or the user needs a feature not available for type 2.
When choosing the type, consider:
When High Availability is needed and the xNIC is doing the duplication or deduplication then, users must use Type 1 or 3
If SLP is needed and the agent is a Linux VM, users should use Type 3
Type 1 or Type 3 are ”overlay” modes that use a tunnel interface. It can be>
TAP (by default) is Layer 3 (IP packet). Currently can be used on Linux only.
TUN (can be configured) is Layer 2 (Ethernet frame). Can be used on Linux or Windows.
Users will need to produce and consume through a virtual interface called swx0 (that’s the default name, but it can be changed).
For example, if a program requires packet capture, we would recommend using the TAP interfaces since they would expose packets earlier in the network. Another example would be a video multi-viewer, as these applications typically require more information than just the video packets themselves.
When installing Type 1 or 3, the -t 1 or -t 3 argument should be used during installation. For a complete list of available arguments, see Installing xNIC on Linux or Windows.