What is the function of the NSX Distributed Firewall in relation to VM-Series?

The NSX Distributed Firewall plays a critical role in integrating with VM-Series firewalls to enhance the security posture of virtualized environments. Its primary function is to facilitate the seamless steering of allowed traffic to the VM-Series firewalls without requiring manual configuration changes on the virtual networking elements.

This is significant because it allows for dynamic security enforcement based on micro-segmentation principles. As virtual machines (VMs) are created or modified, the NSX Distributed Firewall automatically adjusts policies, ensuring that traffic is directed appropriately. This automation not only streamlines the management of security but also improves response times to potential threats, ultimately enhancing the overall security architecture.

In contrast, other options highlight characteristics that do not align with the capabilities of the NSX Distributed Firewall. Manual configuration requirements would hinder the agility and efficiency that the system is designed to provide. An unmanaged firewall contradicts the functionality that NSX introduces, which is predicated on management and orchestration. Finally, restricting the function to only work with physical servers would ignore the fundamental purpose of NSX to operate within virtualized environments where VMs are predominant. The ability to manage traffic flows without manual interventions is what makes the integration between NSX Distributed Firewall and VM-Series particularly powerful in modern data center security strategies.