How do I assign Multiple VLAN's in Virtual switch?

[jspowell]

I have ESX 4.0 installed on two IBM blade hosts that are in a HA cluster to allow vMotion. I have one virtual switch created on each of the hosts. All of the VM's connect to the same switch. I have added a new VM that I want to place on a separate VLAN. I have a few "How to.." questions:

1. How do I put the new VM in a VLAN assignment different from other VM's? (I think it is through port groups but I'm still reading)

2. Can I put multiple VLAN's on the entire virtual switch? (if so what is the snytax? "43; 40" or "43, 40" or "43 40")

3. What is the best practice for this sort of configuration?

Thanks,

Stuart

[vmroyale · Accepted solution]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

1. How do I put the new VM in a VLAN assignment different from other VM's? (I think it is through port groups but I'm still reading)

Port Groups - you are correct. Create a port group and then assign the virtual machine this connection.

2. Can I put multiple VLAN's on the entire virtual switch? (if so what is the snytax? "43; 40" or "43, 40" or "43 40")

Yes, you will want to create a new port group for each required VLAN in the vSwitch.

3. What is the best practice for this sort of configuration?

There is a lot of great information around this in the ESX Configuration Guide.

Good Luck!

[jspowell]

If I add a VLAN to an existing port group will that interrupt LAN traffic?

Stuart

[vmroyale]

If I add a VLAN to an existing port group will that interrupt LAN traffic?

Do you mean that you have a current port group defined with no VLAN ID assigned to it? If so, it would only impact any virtual machines that are currently using that port group.