A virtual switch can connect virtual machines to networks that are external to a Hyper-V host, including an organization`s intranet or Internet. It is programmatically managed and can connect VMs to both virtual networks and physical networks. The switch is a software-based Ethernet network switch and is manageable in Hyper-V Manager and Windows Admin Center (WAC).
![Virtual networking](/static/media/9198938f-8c47-5a0e-82d9-6db6a62cd3f7/DAM-f24f2f52-374a-4ed7-9f0f-2e6eb076b116/out/cas_g_techbook_virtual_networking=GUID-72F485AD-0130-412F-8F00-086795196411=1=en-us=Low.jpg)
Network virtualization works on the concept of shared network infrastructure, in which multiple virtual networks (potentially with overlapping IP addresses) run on the same physical network infrastructure. A Hyper-V virtual switch makes network management easy by allowing admins to configure and view VLANs, while also implementing security policies with Extended Port Control Lists.