Networking - only virtual switch

[yannara]

I installed latest ESXi 4 with Update 1 which is available. I´m running Active Directory LAB on multiple Windows 2008 R2 virtual servers and one of them is acting as router with RRAS role. I´m creating 3 different subnets, and one of them needs to be only virtual - no relation to hardware NIC. In ESXi´s interface it seems I cannot do this, while creating new virtual switch it forces me to select NIC. This becomes a problem, because if I use an virtual switch for Windows 2008 router which has physical NIC, it will come to result that the cable is disconnected. And I need one virtual connection between virtual servers only, that they will be on invidual subnet with each other and communication to physical clients will go through that Windows 2008 router´s NIC which is not supposed to be physical.

How can I archive this with ESXi?

[yannara]

As well as I´m adding new network card to vitual machine, I´m forced to select from physical networks.

[AndreTheGiant]

With a single host you can create an isolated vSwitch (the NIC is not mandatory), and create a portgroup on it.

Then your router will have two vNIC, one for each portgroup.

Andre

[yannara]

What do you mean that the NIC is not mandatory? It seems to be very mandatory to me in UI of ESXi

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

You can create a vSwitch without pNIC attached.

Do no select any NIC, or delete them after the creation of the vSwitch.

Andre

[yannara]

Ou yeah, now I see I can create new vSwitch without physical adapter. At the start, it wasn´t possible.

Here is my networking now.

[AndreTheGiant]

Also on the start must be possible.

But it's normal that the wizard suggest you to add an available NIC.

You can choose no NIC or simple add one and then remove it.

Andre