Patent attributes
A system includes a storage device to store information associated with virtual nodes that correspond to network nodes. The system also includes a server to install a virtual node that corresponds to one of the network nodes, based on the information associated with the virtual node, where installing the virtual node includes creating a logical interface for sending traffic to, or receiving traffic from, other virtual nodes; start the virtual node to create an operating virtual node based on a copy of an operating system that runs on the network node, where starting the virtual node causes the operational virtual node to execute the copy of the operating system; and cause the operating virtual node to communicate with a virtual network, that includes the other virtual nodes, to allow the operating virtual node to receive or forward traffic associated with the virtual network.
