Which protocol is used for VMotion traffic?

VMotion traffic utilizes the TCP/IP protocol because it provides a reliable, connection-oriented service that is essential for the live migration of virtual machines between hosts. During a VMotion operation, the state of the VM, including memory content and CPU state, is transferred across the network. TCP ensures that all data packets are sent and received in order and without loss, which is critical for maintaining VM performance and consistency during the migration process.

While UDP is a transport layer protocol used in various applications, it does not guarantee delivery or order of packets, which could lead to data inconsistency during VMotion. This is why TCP/IP is preferred, as it allows for a more stable and secure transfer of potentially large amounts of data necessary for migrating virtual machines seamlessly. Other protocols mentioned, like HTTP and FTP, are more suited for file transfers and web-based communication rather than the specific requirements set by VMotion operations.