What protocol is commonly used for overlay networking in NSX?

In VMware NSX, overlay networking is primarily achieved using Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN). This protocol facilitates the creation of a virtualized network overlay on top of an existing physical network infrastructure. VXLAN addresses scaling limitations and enhances network isolation by encapsulating Layer 2 Ethernet frames within Layer 4 UDP packets, allowing for a more flexible and scalable architecture that can support thousands of logical networks.

The advantages of using VXLAN include the ability to span across multiple physical locations and cloud environments, making it suitable for modern data center architectures that require agility and extensibility. This encapsulation allows for both east-west and north-south traffic within the overlay, thereby enhancing communication and operational efficiency within virtualized workloads.

Other options are less suitable for overlay networking within NSX. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is primarily used for loop prevention in Layer 2 networks and is not designed to support overlay capabilities. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) is a tunneling protocol but lacks the scalability and features that VXLAN offers for data center environments. Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance vector routing protocol used to determine the best path for data transmission over IP networks, but it does not pertain to the management of overlay networks. Hence, VX