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Zulu_Zeffir
Contributor
Contributor

ESXi 5.5 Static Routing Problem

I have three ESXi 5.5 hosts at a remote branch connected by a MPLS network to our main office where our vCenter server resides.  If for some reason the network between the branches goes down and the ESXi hosts are unable to reach the vCenter server, two routes 'magically' get added to the routing tables on the ESXi boxes.  One for the DNS server and one for the vCenter server.  The only way to fix this is either simply reboot all three ESXi boxes or manually remove the static routes.

Here is a clean ESXi routing table after a reboot of the ESXi boxes and everything is happy:

CleanRoutingTable.PNG

Here is the routing table after a network outage:

AddedRoutes.PNG

As you can see in the first screenshot the correct gateway is 192.168.3.1, which is the remote branch router.  In the second screenshot after a network outage/disconnect you see static routes have been added for 10.1.2.13 (our DNS server) and 10.1.2.88 (our vCenter server) that point to 192.168.3.2 ( the firewall in front of the internet gateway at that remote branch).  My question is, why are these routes being added, what is adding them, and how to prevent it?  The only thing I could guess would be some kind of routing protocol but CDP is not even enabled on the ESXi vswitch so what else could possibly be causing the ESXi hosts to add these routes?    I have parsed through the ESXi logs and cannot locate any mention of the routes being added or why.  Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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NealeC
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Do you have vCenter server heartbeat installed and set up?

-------------- If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or Correct buttons to award points. Chris Neale VCIX6-NV;vExpert2014-17;VCP6-NV;VCP5-DCV;VCP4;VCA-NV;VCA-DCV;VTSP2015;VTSP5;VTSP4 http://www.chrisneale.org http://www.twitter.com/mrcneale
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Zulu_Zeffir
Contributor
Contributor

No, we are not licensed for vCenter Server Heartbeat.

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