What is the NSX classified as?
NSX is classified as a software-defined networking and security platform from VMware that virtualizes networks and enforces security policies across data centers and multi-cloud environments.
Overview and classification
NSX is a central part of VMware’s software-defined data center (SDDC) strategy. Historically, VMware differentiated NSX Data Center for on‑premises vSphere environments and NSX-T Data Center for multi‑cloud and containerized workloads. Today, VMware markets NSX Data Center as the umbrella platform for network virtualization and security, with multi‑cloud capabilities supported through NSX-T‑style architectures under the same NSX umbrella.
Key classifications of NSX
Below are the primary ways NSX is classified within IT architecture:
- Software-defined networking (SDN) and network virtualization platform
- Integrated security platform with micro-segmentation and distributed firewall policies
- Part of VMware's Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) portfolio
- Supports on-premises data centers (vSphere-based) and multi-cloud deployments (NSX-T/Multi-cloud integration)
- Provides virtual networking services such as logical switching, distributed routing, edge services, and API-driven automation
In essence, NSX is a software-centric networking and security layer that virtualizes the data plane and centralizes policy management across environments.
Core capabilities and architecture
NSX delivers a programmable network fabric with a set of core components and capabilities that abstract away physical topology from workloads.
Core components
- NSX Manager: the central control and management plane for the NSX environment
- NSX Data Plane: the distributed software components running on hypervisor hosts to implement virtual networks
- Logical switches and VXLAN-based overlay networks for workload isolation
- Distributed firewall and micro-segmentation to enforce security policies at the workload level
- Distributed routing and routing domain support for scalable intra- and inter‑virtual networks
- Edge services gateway: provides load balancing, VPN, NAT, and other edge capabilities
- Northbound APIs and automation tooling for integration with orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes) and ITSM/CI pipelines
These components collectively create a software-defined networking fabric that sits between virtual workloads and the physical network, enabling centralized control and policy-driven security.
Deployment models and flavors
NSX is deployed in different forms depending on environment and workload needs:
- On-premises NSX Data Center for vSphere environments, focused on VM/workload virtualization and traditional data centers
- Multi-cloud and container-oriented deployments via NSX-T (often marketed under the NSX Data Center umbrella) to support Kubernetes and heterogeneous cloud environments
In practice, organizations choose between or combine these models to achieve consistent networking and security policies across private data centers and public clouds.
Summary
NSX is a software-defined networking and security platform from VMware that virtualizes the network and enforces security across diverse environments. It sits at the intersection of SDN, network virtualization, and workload security, with distinct variants for on-premises (vSphere) and multi-cloud scenarios. Its architecture centers on management, a distributed data plane, virtual networking overlays, and edge services to deliver a programmable, policy-driven network fabric.
