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8 Replies Last post: Nov 5, 2009 10:44 PM by abadu  

Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter posted: Nov 4, 2009 5:24 AM

Click to view abadu's profile Novice
abadu
5 posts since
Aug 5, 2009

Hello,

we have the following problem with ESX 3.5: The virtual machines (Windows 2003 Server, no firewalling) on a vswitch can communicate among themselfes. Only some virtual machines on this vswitch can send data over the physical adapters. We have verified this with Wireshark and a crossed cable between the adapter and a laptop. Moving the network connection of the virtual machines without connection to another vswitch allows some of the virtual machines to send data to the outside. The problem is connected to the ip address of the virtual server. When we move the ip address to another server, this server can not connect to the outside. Any ideas?

Thanks for helping

Alexander Duerrschnabel

Tags: networking, vswitch, esx3.5

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

1. Nov 4, 2009 5:41 AM in response to: abadu
Click to view AWo's profile Champion
AWo
3,643 posts since
Nov 27, 2003
Welcome to the forums!

Did I understand you right, virtual guests with a specific IP can't communicate? Which OS is that? Have you checked for duplkicate IP addresses or messages about that from the guest OS?


AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

2. Nov 4, 2009 5:55 AM in response to: AWo
Click to view abadu's profile Novice
abadu
5 posts since
Aug 5, 2009

Yes, you did understand me correct. Only specific ip adresses have this problem that the guest can communicate to other guests on the vswitch but not the outside. It started with one ip address and now we have this problem with two. We use Windows 2003 Server 64 bit. We have checked for duplicate ip addresses and in the event log there is no entry regarding this problem. Before this problem happened for the second ip address there was in the status window for the network connection the message "Validating identity" and a red question mark was shown.

Alexander

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

3. Nov 4, 2009 6:01 AM in response to: abadu
Click to view AWo's profile Champion
AWo
3,643 posts since
Nov 27, 2003
Can you post the IP setup of one working and one not working, please?


AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

4. Nov 5, 2009 2:09 AM in response to: AWo
Click to view abadu's profile Novice
abadu
5 posts since
Aug 5, 2009

The configuratione is the same for the working connection and the not working connection, only the ip is different

working ip on vm1 172.16.216.87, not working ip on vm2 172.16.216.93

netmask 255.255.255.192, default gw 172.16.216.65, dns1 10.10.15.20, dns2 10.11.15.20, wins1 172.16.103.4, wins2 172.16.103.68

802.1x authentication enabled, authenticate as computer

windows firewall is off

Vm1 can communicate with the outside and vm2, vm2 can not communicate with the outside, but with vm1.

ALexander

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

5. Nov 5, 2009 3:16 AM in response to: abadu
Click to view AWo's profile Champion
AWo
3,643 posts since
Nov 27, 2003
Is it possiblöe that you run a VMkernel port, like NFS, over that switch where ESX owns that non-working IP?


AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

6. Nov 5, 2009 4:28 AM in response to: AWo
Click to view abadu's profile Novice
abadu
5 posts since
Aug 5, 2009

We have one physical switch (192.168.2.0) for the "Virtual Machine Port Group", the "Service Console Port" and the "Vmkernel Port". This switch has no connection to a second physical switch, which is for the connection of our virtual machines to the outside. The storage is attached over a fibre channel switch.

Alexander

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

7. Nov 5, 2009 5:38 AM in response to: abadu
Click to view AWo's profile Champion
AWo
3,643 posts since
Nov 27, 2003
Assign this non-working IP to a physical host. If that doesn't work either it is not a VMware related problem.


AWo
VCP / VMware vEXPERT 2009
=Due to lack of employees, human beings work here. - Treat them carefully, they are rare.=

Re: Communcation problems from vswitch to physical adapter

8. Nov 5, 2009 10:44 PM in response to: AWo
Click to view abadu's profile Novice
abadu
5 posts since
Aug 5, 2009

After moving the vm to another vswitch the problem has vanished. We can now see packets from the vm on the physical adapter. Thanks for discussing this problem with me.

Alexander

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