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In VMware vSphere, you can separate traffic from different networks (e.g., ESXi Management and vMotion) on the same ESXi host using two primary methods:
- Separate vSwitches with Dedicated Physical NICs – Ideal when physical NICs are available.
- Separate Port Groups with VLAN IDs on the Same vSwitch – Useful when physical NICs are limited.
Below is a breakdown of how these methods work, along with verified commands and configurations.
You Should Know: Key Configurations & Commands
1. Using Separate vSwitches
- Physical NIC Assignment: Each vSwitch should have dedicated uplinks (vmnicX).
- Example Command to Add a New vSwitch:
esxcli network vswitch standard add --vswitch-name=vSwitch1
- Assign Physical NICs:
esxcli network vswitch standard uplink add --uplink-name=vmnic1 --vswitch-name=vSwitch1
- Create VMkernel Ports for Management & vMotion:
esxcli network ip interface add --interface-name=vmk1 --portgroup-name=Management --vswitch-name=vSwitch0 esxcli network ip interface add --interface-name=vmk2 --portgroup-name=vMotion --vswitch-name=vSwitch0
2. Using VLANs on the Same vSwitch
- Create Port Groups with VLAN IDs:
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup add --portgroup-name=MGMT_VLAN10 --vswitch-name=vSwitch0 esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -p=MGMT_VLAN10 --vlan-id=10
- Set VLAN for vMotion Traffic:
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup add --portgroup-name=vMotion_VLAN20 --vswitch-name=vSwitch0 esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -p=vMotion_VLAN20 --vlan-id=20
- Verify VLAN Assignments:
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup list
Best Practices for NIC Teaming & Failover
- Active-Standby Configuration:
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set --active-uplinks=vmnic0 --standby-uplinks=vmnic1 --vswitch-name=vSwitch0
- Load Balancing Policy:
esxcli network vswitch standard policy failover set --load-balancing=srcmac --vswitch-name=vSwitch0
vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) Advantages
- Create a vDS:
esxcli network vswitch dvs add --dvs-name=MyVDS --ports=64
- Migrate Port Groups from vSS to vDS:
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set --portgroup-name=MGMT --vds-name=MyVDS
What Undercode Say
When working with VMware vSphere networking, proper traffic isolation is critical for performance and security. Using VLANs on a single vSwitch is efficient when physical NICs are limited, but dedicated vSwitches provide better isolation. Always verify configurations with:
esxcli network vswitch standard list esxcli network ip interface list
For high-speed environments, 10G/100G NICs are recommended. If using vDS, ensure Enterprise Plus licensing is in place.
## **Expected Output**
A well-structured vSphere network with either:
- Separate vSwitches for different traffic types.
- VLAN-segmented port groups on a shared vSwitch.
For further reading:
References:
Reported By: Phuong Nguyen – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
