vmk ports from multiple hosts in the same vDS port group?

[terrible_towel]

Hello,

I'm migrating the vmk ports (admin, iscsi, vmotion) on multiple hosts from vSS to a vDS. The hosts are configured with dual 10Ge cards now.

I've created Port groups such as:

- iscsi-a   (using 10Ge port A)

- iscsi-b   (using 10Ge port B)

- vmotion-a  (10Ge Port A active, Port B standby)

- vmotion-b  (10Ge Port B active, Port A standby)

- Admin  (both 10Ge ports active)

- NFS  (both 10Ge ports active)

Can I use these port groups for all hosts ?  Or do I need to create this set of 6 port groups for EACH host?

I hope the answer is "of course you can..."

I have this setup in a 2 host testbed, and it works fine so far.

Thanks, Paul

vSphere 5.5U2 Ent Plus

[rcporto]

Not 100% sure if I understood your question, but once you create these port groups on vDS, all hosts connected to this vDS will inherit these port groups... you don't need create these port groups on all hosts manually like you may have done when using vSS.

[terrible_towel]

Hi, and thanks for the reply.

My question really is... can I use a single port group on a vDS for all the vmk ports per type from all my hosts?

So I would end up with a port group for iscsi-A with 12 vmk's ( from 12 different hosts) and another port group for iscsi-B with 12 more vmk's... and so on.

I just didn't know if I had to create a separate port group on the vDS for each type AND each host.

If I create the port groups on the vDS before adding any hosts.... then as I add each host to the vDS they will use those port groups.

So I will end up with 6 port groups (2 iscsi, 2 vmotion, 1 admin, 1 NFS)  and each port group will have 12 vmk's, each coming from 1 host.

Thanks,

Paul

[rcporto]

My question really is... can I use a single port group on a vDS for all the vmk ports per type from all my hosts?

Yes, you can 🙂

So I would end up with a port group for iscsi-A with 12 vmk's ( from 12 different hosts) and another port group for iscsi-B with 12 more vmk's... and so on.

I just didn't know if I had to create a separate port group on the vDS for each type AND each host.

You will need to create just a separate port group for each type of traffic and not for each host, and the VMkernel interfaces will show only on host view, not on vDS view.

If I create the port groups on the vDS before adding any hosts.... then as I add each host to the vDS they will use those port groups.

Once you create the vDS and Port Groups, when adding the hosts to vDS you will have the option to migrate the VMkernel interfaces from vSS to vDS.

So I will end up with 6 port groups (2 iscsi, 2 vmotion, 1 admin, 1 NFS)  and each port group will have 12 vmk's, each coming from 1 host.

Yes, and remember that you will may need additional port groups for virtual machine traffic.