ESX Configuration Guide

vNetwork Distributed Switch Architecture

A vNetwork Distributed Switch (vDS) functions as a single virtual switch across all associated hosts. This enables you to set network configurations that span across all member hosts, and allows virtual machines to maintain consistent network configuration as they migrate across multiple hosts.

Figure 4-1. vNetwork Distributed Switch Network

VM

VM

VM

VM

VM

				Network
					C
				dvPort groups
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J
		vNetwork Distributed Switch
Host1	dvUplink							dvUplink	Host2	virtual
Host1									Host2	physical
			physical network adapters
			physical network

Like a vNetwork Standard Switch, each vNetwork Distributed Switch is a network hub that virtual machines can use. A vNetwork Distributed Switch can forward traffic internally between virtual machines or link to an external network by connecting to physical Ethernet adapters, also known as uplink adapters.

Each vNetwork Distributed Switch can also have one or more dvPort groups assigned to it. dvPort groups group multiple ports under a common configuration and provide a stable anchor point for virtual machines connecting to labeled networks. Each dvPort group is identified by a network label, which is unique to the current datacenter. A VLAN ID, which restricts port group traffic to a logical Ethernet segment within the physical network, is optional.

Network resource pools allow you to manage network traffic by type of network traffic.

In addition to VMware vNetwork Distributed Switches, vSphere 4 also provides support for third-party virtual switches. For information about configuring these third-party switches, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/1000vdocs.

Configuring a vNetwork Distributed Switch

You can create a vNetwork Distributed Switch on a vCenter Server datacenter. After you have created a vNetwork Distributed Switch, you can add hosts, create dvPort groups, and edit vNetwork Distributed Switch properties and policies.

Create a vNetwork Distributed Switch

Create a vNetwork Distributed Switch to handle networking traffic for associated hosts on the datacenter.

Procedure

1Log in to the vSphere Client and choose the Networking inventory view.

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2 From the Inventory menu, select Datacenter > vNetwork Distributed Switch.

3Select a vNetwork Distributed Switch version.

Option	Description
vNetwork Distributed Switch	Compatible with ESX version 4.0 and later. Features released with later vDS
Version: 4.0	versions are not supported.
vNetwork Disributed Switch Version:	Compatible with ESX version 4.1 and later.
4.1.0

4Click Next.

5Enter a name for the vNetwork Distributed Switch in the Name text box.

6Use the arrow buttons to select the Number of dvUplink Ports and click Next.

dvUplink ports connect the vNetwork Distributed Switch to physical NICs on associated hosts. The number of dvUplink ports is the maximum number of allowed physical connections to the vNetwork Distributed Switch per host.

7Choose when to add hosts to the vDS.

Option	Description
Add now	Select the hosts and physical adapters to use by clicking the check box next
	to each host or adapter. You can add only physical adapters that are not
	already in use during vNetwork Distributed Switch creation.
Add later	No hosts are added to the vDS at this time. You must add hosts to the vDS
	before adding network adapters. You can add network adapters from the
	host configuration page of the vSphere Client by using the Manage Hosts
	functionality or by using Host Profiles.

8Click Next.

9(Optional) Choose Automatically create a default port group.

This option creates a static binding port group with 128 ports. For systems with complex port group requirements, skip the default port group and create a new dvPort group after you have finished adding the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

10 Review the vNetwork Distributed Switch diagram to ensure proper configuration and click Finish.

Add Hosts to a vNetwork Distributed Switch

You can add hosts and physical adapters to a vNetwork Distributed Switch at the vDS level after the vDS is created.

Procedure

1 In the vSphere Client, select the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch. 2 Select Inventory > vNetwork Distributed Switch > Add Host.

3Select the hosts to add.

4Under the selected hosts, select the physical adapters to add, and click Next. You can select physical adapters that are free and in use.

NOTE Moving a physical adapter to a vDS without moving any associated virtual adapters can cause those virtual adapters to lose network connectivity.

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5For each virtual adapter, select the Destination port group from the drop-down menu to migrate the virtual adapter to the vDS or select Do not migrate.

6Click Next.

7(Optional) Migrate virtual machine networking to the vDS. a Select Migrate virtual machine networking.

bFor each virtual machine, select the Destination port group from the drop-down menu or select Do not migrate.

8Click Next.

9Review the settings for the vDS, and click Finish.

If you need to make any changes, click Back to the appropriate screen.

Manage Hosts on a vDS

You can change the configuration for hosts and physical adapters on a vDS after they are added to the vDS.

Procedure

1 In the vSphere Client, select the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch. 2 Select Inventory > vNetwork Distributed Switch > Manage Hosts

3Select the hosts to manage and click Next.

4Select the physical adapters to add, deselect the physical adapters to remove, and click Next.

5For each virtual adapter, select the Destination port group from the drop-down menu to migrate the virtual adapter to the vDS or select Do not migrate.

6Click Next.

7(Optional) Migrate virtual machine networking to the vDS. a Select Migrate virtual machine networking.

bFor each virtual machine, select the Destination port group from the drop-down menu or select Do not migrate.

8Click Next.

9Review the settings for the vDS, and click Finish.

If you need to make any changes, click Back to the appropriate screen.

Edit General vNetwork Distributed Switch Settings

You can edit the general properties for a vNetwork Distributed Switch, such as the vNetwork Distributed Switch name and the number of uplink ports on the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

Procedure

1 In the vSphere Client, choose the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch. 2 From the Inventory menu, select vNetwork Distributed Switch > Edit Settings.

3Select General to edit the following vNetwork Distributed Switch settings. n Enter the name for the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

n Select the number of uplink ports.

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nTo edit uplink port names, click Edit uplink port names, enter the new names, and click OK.

nEnter any notes for the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

4Click OK.

Edit Advanced vNetwork Distributed Switch Settings

Use the vNetwork Distributed Switch Settings dialog box to configure advanced vNetwork Distributed Switch settings such as Cisco Discovery Protocol and the maximum MTU for the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

Procedure

1 In the vSphere Client, display the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

2From the Inventory menu, select vNetwork Distributed Switch > Edit Settings.

3Select Advanced to edit the following vNetwork Distributed Switch properties. a Specify the maximum MTU size.

b Select the Enable Cisco Discovery Protocol check box to enable CDP, and set the operation to

Listen, Advertise, or Both.

cEnter the name and other details for the vNetwork Distributed Switch administrator in the Admin Contact Info section.

4Click OK.

View Network Adapter Information for a vNetwork Distributed Switch

View physical network adapters and uplink assignments for a vNetwork Distributed Switch from the networking inventory view of the vSphere Client.

Procedure

1 In the vSphere Client, choose the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

2From the Inventory menu, select vNetwork Distributed Switch > Edit Settings.

3On the Network Adapters tab, you can view network adapter and uplink assignments for associated hosts. This tab is read-only. vNetwork Distributed Switch network adapters must be configured at the host level.

4Click OK.

Upgrade a vDS to a Newer Version

A vNetwork Distributed Switch version 4.0 can be upgraded to version 4.1, enabling the vDS to take advantage of features available only in the later version.

Procedure

1In the vSphere Client, select the Networking inventory view and select the vNetwork Distributed Switch.

2On the Summary tab, next to Version, select Upgrade.

The upgrade wizard details the features available to the upgraded vDS that are not available to the earlier version.

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