Switches provide connectivity between VM’s on same host or different hosts. iSCSI, NFS storage and vMotion migration are accessed by using switches. They are also used for Remote host management to access the VMkernel . In virtual environment, more than one networks can exist on single switch. Even if you have less adapters connected to ESXi hosts multiple functionalities can be grouped and assigned to virtual machines .

There are two types of switches : Standard used for single hosts and Distributed switch where up to 2000 hosts can be connected.

In this lab, We view the current switch , create a standard switch and assign this new switch(Vstorage) to existing Virtual machines.

Note: Repeat the same task for both the ESXi Hosts.

Task1: View the standard switch configuration

Step1: click on Hosts and Clusters, and in configure tab ,networking category has virtual switch features.

The below details can be obtained from the switch summary :

What is the Name of default standard switch? – VSwitch0 which is a default switch

which physical adapter is the default standard switch connected to? – It is connected to management network switch connected to host ESXi VMNIC0

Which network is your Virtual machine connected to?

VMnetwork connected to ESXi host .

Which networks are connected to the default standard switch? – VMNetwork and management network associated to ESXi Host are connected to default standard switch

Task2: Create a standard switch with a virtual machine port group

Step1: on the configure tab of ESXi host, on network at virtual switches(similar to task1) click create network adapter and select standard switch

Step2:select new switch

Step3: this pops up different network adapters which are attached to ESXi host but not assigned .select one of them

Step4:Name the Virtual switch

Step5:Review and submit

Task3: Attach your Virtual machines to new machine port

Step1: select VM under VM and templates

Step2: Actions>edit settings and Select Network Adapter to change it to production ,click ok.

Step3: Open Network and sharing center and set IP address as 172.20.11.30 and gateway and DNS as 172.20.11.10 in VM1-1 and VM2-1

Step4: open Cmd and ping the server from both the VM’s

TroubleShooting:

While creating new standard switch, Failover group should be changed to all or unused if the adapter is newly connected to ESXi host.

Critical Thinking:

Standard switches help us to maintain storage systems separately or in same ESXi but partitioned to make it more secure. Since multiple type of adapters and various networks can be hosted on single switch it needs to be carefully configured and managed to avoid overlapping of networks.