Networking

The NuvlaBox has been designed to be flexible and to support several network scenarios. By default, the NuvlaBox is configured with a specific network scenario which doesn’t need any configuration from the operator. The default network scenario used by the NuvlaBox is named Confined Network. This as well as other well tested network scenarios are described in detail in the following sections.

Confined Network

In this scenario, all Virtual Machines (VMs) and all users are connected to the network managed by the NuvlaBox. The advantage of this network scenario is that no configuration is needed to access and to use the NuvlaBox. Specifically,

  • VMs are created in internal virtual networks inside the NuvlaBox.
  • An internal DHCP allocates IP addresses to VMs and to users.
  • Connected users in LAN / WLAN network and virtual machines in VM network have access to the company network and to the Internet through Network Address Translation (NAT).
  • VMs are reachable through the LAN / WLAN network.
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Shared Network

In this scenario, all VMs are reachable from the Company Network without being connected directly to the NuvlaBox. The advantage of this network scenario is that services running within VMs on the NuvlaBox can be accessed directly through the Company Network. Specifically,

  • Virtual machines and users are bridged onto the Company Network.
  • The company’s DHCP server allocates users’ IP addresses, but a range of IP addresses on the Company Network for VMs is allocatec to and managed by the NuvlaBox itself.
../../_images/nb-network-shared.png

VPN Network

The idea about this network scenario is to have running VMs on a shared VPN network transparently to the VMs. The advantage of this network scenario is to have access to VMs from anywhere from the internet by using a VPN connection.

Specificity:

  • Virtual machines are bridged onto the VPN Network.
  • If a local connection is available with access to the Internet, VMs use this connection to access internet and VPN connection to communicate with the VPN Network.
../../_images/nb-network-vpn.png

VM level VPN connection

This is not a real network scenario, because it use the Confined Network scenario and SlipStream recipe configuration to make the VMs connect to a remote VPN server. The advantage of this network scenario is to have access to VMs from anywhere from the internet without changing the default network scenario of the NuvlaBox.

Note

Contact SixSq if you need a custom network scenario.