Need some config confirmation please....

[razar72]

We're building out a small 2 node ESXi 3.5 cluster with a VC server. All 3 servers have 6 nic 1Gb ports. For the ESXi hosts I'm looking at setting them up with 3 vSwitches, each using 2 pNICs.

1st for console & Vmotion teamed on a private vLan

2nd for NFS storage teamed on a private vLan

3rd for VM's on the production user network.

As I understand it the console, vmotion, and storage pNICs will all require IP's. As for the VC server, other than being on the production network I'm assuming it needs to be on the console, vmotion, and storage vLan's as well?

How far off am I?

Thanks.

[weinstein5]

The phyasical NICs do not reuire IP addresses - these are assigned at the vmkernel port for vmotion and IP Storgae, the service console port for the service console abd these need to be on the approriate network segments/vlans - for more information on networking check out the configuration guide - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi3_35/esx_3/r35u2/vi3_35_25_u2_3_server_config.pdf

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[razar72]

ok, so now I'm getting confused as to how to best utilize my NIC's

how's this....

vSwitch0: Service Console primary (vmnic0), Service Console Secondary (vmnic2)

vSwitch1: VM network (vmnic4, vmnic5)

vSwitch2: VMotion (vmnic1), NFS (vmnic3)

[khughes · Accepted solution]

That looks pretty good, you have redundancy on all levels. You might want to do this for vswitch0

vSwitch0

Service console (primary) / vMotion (secondary) -- vmnic0

vMotion (primary) / service console (secondary) --- vmnic 2

• Kyle

[razar72]

I like that even better.

thanks

[razar72]

to take this to the next level as far as IP's go I'll need them for the service console Ports, vMotion Ports, and the storage Ports correct?

And as far as the vCenter server goes, it just needs to be on the same net as the console ports right? Or is there more to it than that?

thanks for all the help so far.

[weinstein5]

That is correct -