vSwitches and different NICs

[kurtwest]

What ill effect if any will there be if I create a vSwitch with two different types if NICs. Broadcom and Intel in the same switch? Should I really try my best to use the same make/model NICs in a vSwitch?

[Francis_Beland]

As far as I know, you shouldn't have any problem connecting 2 differents NIC on a vswitch. As long as the NIC are on the HCL, you won't notice any difference.

Francis

[polysulfide]

You can do a software load balance with different NIC types.

You can't do a proprietary driver-based link aggregate like an HP LA Trunk but you can do a software load balance. You 'should' also still be able to do a dot1q trunk at the switch level as well.

If it was useful, give me credit

http://communities.vmware.com/blogs/polysulfide

VI From Concept to Implementation

[LarsLiljeroth · Accepted solution]

No problem at all...Fully supporte by VM We had issues in version 2.x but not in 3.x

See this post -->> http://communities.vmware.com/message/682802

[dpomeroy]

There were issues in the past with mixing Intel and Broadcom NICs. Even though the issues are resolved if you have the ability to keep all the NICs connected to a vSwitch the same I would do that, its just one less potential thing to cause problems at some point. I think there is less risk if you are doing some kind of active/standby configuration.

Don Pomeroy

VMware Communities User Moderator