VMware Cloud Community
Rhidian
Contributor
Contributor

vMotion via crossover cable?

Hi,

I have a two node ESXi 4.0 installation with vCenter I have configure the vMotion Switch and connected a crossover cable but the status of the network card is still down and I can't vmping from one node to the other using the vMotion IP addresses, any ideas?

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DSTAVERT
Immortal
Immortal

I would search the forums for other references to crossover cables. Why would you want to give up a NIC dedicated to VMotion when it could be used to add redundancy, management separation etc.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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schepp
Leadership
Leadership

Did you add a VMkernel on both vSwitches of the ESXi Servers?

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Rhidian
Contributor
Contributor

I'm just testing my configuration and only have a small netgear hub.  When I do conect it to the hub the card comes up but before migration I get a warning stating that the vm will be powered off before migration.   I have added a VMkernal port to both hosts and enabled vMotion.

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LarryBlanco2
Expert
Expert

Are your ESXi server the same hardware?

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DSTAVERT
Immortal
Immortal

Make sure your hosts have the same processor family (Both AMD or Both Intel) and they are enough similar that you can enable EVC if necessary. http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003212

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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Rhidian
Contributor
Contributor

Completely the same.

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DSTAVERT
Immortal
Immortal

Make sure you have complied with all the requirements for vMotion. http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-esxi-4-1-embedded/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm search on vMotion.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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halibut
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Both of the pNICs are gigabit?

Have you tried an alternate cable?  If the pNICs are gigabit a crossover cable is not required, a standard cat5e or greater cable would surfice as well.

Did you log onto the server and run a "vmkping" to the other computer's vmk1 vMotion IP?

It should work fine BTW.

C

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Rhidian
Contributor
Contributor

I have abandoned the use of the cross over cable and will make do with the limitations of my hub for now.

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