Objective 3.2 – Configure and Manage vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS)

Knowledge

• Identify vDS capabilities
  All vSS capabilities plus:
  • Maintains a single configuration across all hosts
  • Ensures VMs see consistent network provision regardless of the host they are on
  • Allows the use of NetFlow, Port Mirroring and Private VLANs
  • Performs traffic shaping ingress as well as egress
  • Allows use of LACP for teaming
  • Allows use of Load Based Teaming
  • … see comparison table in 3.1 for more
• Create/Delete a vDS
  Use C# client, Web client, PowerCLI
  • Create with Web Client:
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Right click on the Datacenter object and select “New Distributed Switch”
    • Name the vDS and click Next
    • Select the version (4.0-5.5), Next
    • Choose the number of Uplinks, whether NIOC is enabled and whether a default port group is created, according to what you wish to create.
    • Click Next, and Finish
• Add/Remove ESXi hosts from a vDS
  Easiest through GUI, same for following items
  • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
  • Expand the Datacenter object
  • Right click on the vDS object and select “Add and Manage Hosts”
  • Leave the radio button on “Add hosts”, Next
  • Click “New hosts…” and select the hosts to add, OK, and Next
  • You can now select to manage the host nics, the vmknics, migrate VM networking and change advanced settings. Leave the defaults and click Next
  • For each host nic you want to use, click on it, then click on “Assign Uplink” to assign it to a vDS uplink, Next
  • Choose to create new vmknics or assign existing ones to port groups on the new vDS, Next
  • Check the impact on existing network services on the next screen, Next
  • Click Finish to apply the change
  • Add hosts with Web Client:
• Edit general vSphere vDS settings
  Advanced settings includes MTU
  • Edit settings with Web Client:
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Right click on the vDS object and select “Edit Settings”
    • Amend Uplinks/Network IO control in the General tab, or MTU, Discovery protocol and admin contact in the Advanced tab
    • Click OK to apply the changes
• Add/Configure/Remove dvPortgroups
  • New Distributed Port Group with Web Client:
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Right click on the vDS object and select “New Distributed Port Group”
    • Name the port group and click Next
    • Enter the configuration details for this port group (binding type, no of ports, VLAN etc) and if necessary select the “Advanced” checkbox to customize the default policies)
    • Click Next, and FInish
• Configure dvPort settings
  • Configure dvPort settings with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Select vDS object and click on the Ports tab
    • Select the Port in the list and click the pencil icon to edit.
    • Edit the settings in the dialog box, and click OK to save
• Add/Remove uplink adapters to dvUplinkgroups
  • Add uplink adapters with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Right click on the vDS object and select “Add and Manage Hosts”
    • Select “Manage host networking”, Next
    • Click “Attached Hosts”
    • Select the hosts to manage, OK, Next
    • Select only “Manage physical adapters”, Next
    • Click on the vmnic to assign, and then select “Assign uplink”
    • Choose the Uplink, OK, Next
    • Check the impact on existing network services on the next screen, Next
    • Click Finish to apply the change
• Create/Configure/Remove virtual adapters
  • Create virtual adapters with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Right click on the vDS object and select “Add and Manage Hosts”
    • Select “Manage host networking”, Next
    • Click “Attached Hosts”
    • Select the hosts to manage, OK, Next
    • Select only “Manage VMkernel adapters”, Next
    • Click “New adapter”
    • Choose the port group, Next
    • Choose the port properties and services, Next
    • Set the IP address (or leave as DHCP), Next
    • Click Finish
• Migrate virtual adapters to/from a vSS
  • Migrate virtual adapters with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Right click on the vDS object and select “Add and Manage Hosts”
    • Select “Manage host networking”, Next
    • Click “Attached Hosts”
    • Select the hosts to manage, OK, Next
    • Select only “Manage VMkernel adapters”, Next
    • Select the vmknic to migrate
    • Click “Assign port group” and choose the new Distributed Port Group to assign to
    • Click Ok, and Next
    • Check the impact on existing network services on the next screen, Next
    • Click Finish to apply the changes
• Migrate virtual machines to/from a vDS
  • Migrate virtual machines with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Right click on the Datacenter object and select “Migrate VM to Another Network”
    • Choose the source network in the “Specific network” box
    • Choose the destination network, Next
    • Choose the VMs to migrate, Next
    • Click Finish
• Monitor dvPort state
  • Monitor dvPort state with Web Client
    • Go to vCenter Home and Networking
    • Expand the Datacenter object
    • Click on the vDS object
    • Manage > Ports
    • Find the port ID in the list
    • Select the port ID and the status will show below
• Determine use cases for a vDS
  • Must have Enterprise Plus licensing
  • Simpler to manage large numbers of hosts with a vDS rather than making sure their vSS and Port Groups are in sync.
  • If you need to use NetFlow, Port Mirroring or Private VLANs
  • If you want to use “Load Based Teaming”
  • If you want to use Network IO Control or Network Resource Pools

Tools

• vSphere Installation and Setup Guide
• vSphere Networking Guide
• vSphere Web Client
• vSphere Client