资料来源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

virtual connection
     
         1. (VC) A connection or a path through an {ATM}
        network.  The word "{virtual}" indicates that the connection
        is {logical} rather than {physical}.
     
        Nothing to do with a {virtual circuit} on a {packet switching}
        network.
     
        [Fred Halsall, "Data Communications, Computer Networks and
        Open Systems", 1996, Addison Wesley].
     
        2. A communications link that appears to be a direct
        connection between sender and receiver, although physically
        the link can be routed through a more circuitous path, running
        over {virtual circuits} instead of a private network built
        primarily with {dedicated lines}.
     
        A virtual connection can provide full-time connection among
        many sites, including those configured for {SNA}/{SDLC}
        {protocol}.  A virtual connection can handle any transmission
        protocol and is supported worldwide.  It can provide high
        throughput and low delay for {LAN} and {Internet}
        applications, peer-to-peer connectivity, client-server
        computing, and other distributed processing applications.
     
        [Same as {virtual circuit}?]
     
        (2001-10-26)