# Networking Aspects of Running VMs in Containers

DevFeed: [Networking Aspects of Running VMs in Containers](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/networking-aspects-of-running-vms-in-containers-11436.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2026/09/running-virtual-machines-in-containers/>)

Published: 2026-09-02T05:44:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [Containers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/containers.md>), [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/virtualization.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/networking.md>), [Linux](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/linux.md>), [Orchestration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/orchestration.md>)

Tags: [bridge](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bridge.md>), [containers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/containers.md>), [docker](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/docker.md>), [ethernet](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ethernet.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [networking](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/networking.md>), [podman](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/podman.md>), [qemu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/qemu.md>), [virtual-machines](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtual-machines.md>), [virtualization](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/virtualization.md>)

## AI overview

The article explains how vrnetlab and a containerlab fork package virtual machines, especially network devices, as containers so container orchestration can provision network topologies. It focuses on connecting QEMU virtual network interfaces, Linux tap interfaces, bridges, and container veth pairs, including why data-plane and management interfaces require different handling.

## Source excerpt

The vrnetlab project and its containerlab fork implement a wonderful idea: let's package virtual machines (primarily network devices that cannot be containerized) as containers to use reliable orchestration tools like containerlab to provision network topologies. That approach might have a few drawbacks (depending on how the container images are built), but the obvious elephant in the room is: how do you make the virtual network plumbing work? Read more ...