Whats a Virtual Router (vRouter)?

A Virtual Router, or vRouter, is a software function that replicates in software the functionality of a
hardware-based Layer 3 Internet Protocol (IP) routing, which has traditionally used a dedicated
hardware device. It is often used as a generic term for virtual routing, but it is also included in the name
of several brand-name commercial products.
Virtual routing is a form of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), in which the functions of traditional
hardware-based network appliances are converted to software than can be run on standard Commercial
Off-the-Shelf (COTS) hardware. This has advantages of lowering hardware costs and allowing more
hardware interoperability, rather than requiring a proprietary hardware platform.

Source: Cisco
Because virtual routing liberates the IP routing function from specific hardware, that means that routing
functions can be more freely moved around a network or data center. In basic software routing
function, routing software is added to commodity server and that piece of hardware becomes a router.
In a more sophisticated distributed routing environment, pieces of the routing software can be moved
around entire networks while managed with a centralized control plane.
This evolution means that routing functions can be dynamically configured or adapted to the network
needs. Emerging open-source technologies such as OpenStackss Neutron include ways for routing
functionality to morph into software that is distributed through the network or data center.
Brocade Starts a Trend
Although vRouters have been around a while, Brocade Communications stepped up the marketing of
virtual routing after acquiring startup Vyatta in 2012. Brocade has since used Vyatta, which it now calls

the Vyatta 5600 vRouter, as one of the linchpins of its Software Defined Networking (SDN) and NFV
strategy. The Vyatta 5600 is a 10Gbps+ virtual router with many IP routing features.
As SDN and NFV have gained popularity, other major networking hardware players have developed
vRouter strategies. For example, Juniper Networks has a module called vRouter, which is part of
its Contrail product line, which provides IP-based data forwarding. This can be used to create an IPbased tunnel by encapsulating traffic. This is an approach known as overlay in SDN. Cisco markets the
Cloud Services Router 1000V series, designed for Wide Area Networking (WAN) applications.
And Alcatel-Lucent, another big routing player, in 2014 introduced its Virtualized Services Router (VSR).
The same approach is used by VMware in its NSX gateway. Many other large networking vendors,
including Ericsson, are taking routing technology and virtualizing it as a software solution.
Use Cases from WAN to WiFi
The major networking players have created virtual routing products to offset competition from SDN in
and NFV, which puts more emphasis on software functionality that can be applied to industry-standard
hardware.
Each company has a slightly different spin on the vRouter, but generally the use cases mimic those of
commercial hardware-based routing solutions. This might include VPN, traffic engineering, route
reflectors, BGP routing, firewalls, and virtual Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for the WAN. Another
use case includes network virtualization (i.e. VMware NSX).
In addition to the commercial products designed for larger enterprise or service-provider networks,
there are also lightweight freeware versions of vRouters for uses such as creating a virtual WiFi routers
on a Windows Personal Computers (PCs).
In general, the vRouter has gained momentum as a replacement for hardware-based routing in
certain use cases, especially the WAN. However it is still not regarded as a replacement for heavy-duty
core IP routers, which help control the core of the Internet. Many industry experts question how virtual
routing will effect some of largest IP router companies, Cisco and Juniper, because it threatens their
existing hardware-based routing revenue streams.