Understanding TAP and TUN Devices in Linux/KVM Cloud Deployment

D.

In a Linux/KVM cloud deployment model, TAP and TUN devices are commonly used for handling network traffic. These devices operate at the network layer and provide functionality such as packet capturing, filtering, and forwarding. The main difference between TAP and TUN devices lies in the way they handle network packets.

TAP (Network Tap) devices simulate a virtual network interface card (NIC) and operate at the link layer of the OSI model. They are used for capturing and forwarding Ethernet frames, which can be analyzed or processed by network monitoring tools. TAP devices are commonly used for network analysis and monitoring applications, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) and network sniffers.

On the other hand, TUN (Network TUNnel) devices simulate a virtual point-to-point (P2P) network link and operate at the network layer of the OSI model. They are used for encapsulating IP packets within a tunnel, allowing them to be transported over a different network. TUN devices are commonly used for creating secure virtual private networks ( VPNs) and implementing network overlays in cloud environments.

Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is D. TUN is for handling IP packets, but TAP is for handling Ethernet frames.