The VEM corresponds to a line card in a conventional physical switch, while the VSM corresponds to a supervisor engine.
In a hardware switch, the physical wiring that connects the Supervisor Engine (SE) and the individual line cards is known as the backplane. This is incorporated into the switch chassis. There are numerous types of modular switches, which will have different configurations depending on their functions. However, all switches will have an SE and typically some Ethernet line cards.
Other line cards include advanced integrated services modules (AISMs) that include firewall services, content switching, Intruder Detection System (IDS), and Wireless and Network Analysis Modules (WNAM).
Cisco N1KV uses local VEM instances to switch the traffic between VMs. Each VEM also interconnects the local VM with the rest of the network through the upstream access-layer network switch. VSM never forwards the packets. It runs...