Which component of NSX-T is responsible for data plane operations?

The component that is responsible for data plane operations in NSX-T is indeed the NSX VIBs (Virtual Inline Binaries). VIBs are lightweight, open-source, kernel modules that are installed directly onto the hypervisor. They execute data plane functions, allowing for the processing and forwarding of packets to occur at high speed, and they play a critical role in enabling the distributed routing and switching functionalities within NSX-T environments.

The data plane refers to the part of the network where the actual traffic data is transferred, as opposed to the control plane, which is responsible for signaling and management functions. VIBs handle tasks such as packet encapsulation and decapsulation, traffic filtering, and load balancing, all of which are essential for ensuring efficient data flow within the virtualized infrastructure.

In contrast, NSX Manager focuses primarily on management and control plane operations, NSX Edge handles routing and services at the perimeter of the network but does not operate on all data plane tasks, and the NSX Controller is responsible for network control and management activities, such as distributing routing information, rather than directly managing data plane traffic.