US Patent 10339039 Virtual service interface

A virtualization request is identified to initiate a virtualized transaction involving a first software component and a virtual service simulating a second software component. A reference within the first software component to the second software component is determined, using a plugin installed on the first software component, that is to be used by the first software component to determine a first network location of the second software component. A second network location of a system to host the virtual service is determined and the reference is changed, using the plugin, to direct communications of the first software component to the second network location instead of the first network location responsive to the virtualization request.