The virtualization of the network access layer has opened new doors in how we perceive networks. With this virtualization of the network, it is possible to transform a regular PC with several network interface cards into a switch. PC-based switches are becoming an alternative to off-the-shelf switches, since they are cheaper. For this reason, it is important to evaluate the performance of PC-based switches. In this paper, we present a performance evaluation of two PC-based switches, using Open vSwitch and LiSA, and compare their performance with an off-the-shelf Cisco switch. The RTT, throughput, and fairness for UDP are measured for both Ethernet and Fast Ethernet technologies. From this research, we can conclude that the Cisco switch presents the best performance, and both PC-based switches have similar performance. Between Open vSwitch and LiSA, Open vSwitch represents a better choice since it has more features and is currently actively developed. 1. Introduction Virtualization is a concept that in recent years has gained a huge importance. From computing's perspective, virtualization means that computing tasks or programs are run under a virtual environment rather than in a physical hardware. With this concept, one physical component can be logically seen as multiple virtual components. In this way, operators gain great flexibility and abstraction of the underlying physical infrastructure. One of the major uses of virtualization is the creation of several virtual machines (VMs) in one physical machine also known as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). This is done generally in datacenters [1], which provide several services in different VMs, within the same physical machine, allowing a quick provisioning, spilling-over to the cloud, and improving availability during periods of disaster recovery. With the growing adoption of virtualization, it was necessary to develop a new network access layer that provides inter-VM connectivity in the same way as the physical layer does. Hence, software to create virtual switches or virtual routers has recently gain importance. Another use of this software is that a common PC with multiple network interface cards (NICs) can act as a switch or a router. In a moderate network topology, multiple switches and routers can be present. Obtaining these physical devices can be highly expensive. With the release of software to create virtual devices, a cheaper and more flexible solution has emerged, with the availability of PC-based switches and routers. In a demandant network environment, a device's performance can be
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