Virtualization
The multiplexed shared resource may seem like a unshared virtual resource provided we have a level of indirection
- I.e. Multiplexing + indirection = virtualization
- We can “refer” to the virtual resource as if it were the physical resource.
- Indirection requires binding and unbinding…
Examples:
- A queueing system: a virtual server for each named source
- A Switch/Router/Bridge with a forwarding table (indirection) provide virtual links between any two ports.
- The Internet uses control protocols like routing/ARP to establish indirections (name->address->lower layer address->next hop) to create virtual links between any two users/apps