Methods, apparatus and systems for effecting Virtual Machine (VM) platform communication loopback and enabling user initiated network port failover. Network communications in platforms employing VMs and having multiple network ports accessible to the VMs are configured to be routed such that communications between VMs in the platform are looped back within the platform, thus not require routing through an external switch. This is facilitated via an Intelligent Channel Bonding Driver that dynamically enforces inter-VM traffic to ensure internal loopback within the same physical port. In another aspect, a user is enabled to initiate failover of a network port on a platform employing a Virtual Machine Manager and a plurality of VMs, wherein updated configuration information is sent to disable Virtual Function (VF) drivers associated with the network port.