Service Console Teaming mode (a/a or a/sb)

[private00]

Hi,

what is the best way to team two physical nics for the service console (one vSwitch).

active/active mode or active/standby? In the doc on Page 167 VMware say active/standby. But why? Whats the disadvantage of active/active?

thx, chris

[private00]

and up... :smileyblush:

[AntonVZhbankov]

There is no real need to have active/active SC - traffic level is too low. But if you have active/active SC, you'll probably mix these 2 adapters with active/active VMkernel (IP Storage & VMotion) which can lead to some problems like accidental host isolation. So it's better to divide 2 adapters as active/standby between SC and VMkernel. Usually it works as 1 adapter is dedicated to SC / VMkernel, but if one adapter fail it will switch to another, so you can move VM's from this ESX without downtime.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[private00]

Ok, thanks much. We use two vSwitches:

- one for VMkernel with two nics (team a/a)

- one for ServiceConsole with tow nics (team a/sb)

So i will not change any config. thx

[AntonVZhbankov]

You don't really need 2 vSwitches. Just dedicate 1 NIC for SC only and add another NIC (from VMkernel) as sb. SC NIC add to VMkernel as sb. And if you have more than one physical adapter, make sure these NICs (ports) are from different adapters. So if one NIC fails, all the traffic will be handled by another.

I do not recommend to mix SC and another traffic on one NIC in normal situations, it can lead to host isolation sometimes.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[private00]

Sorry, it is a missunderstanding.

We have two physical nics (both quad port). We use one port (a/sb) of each physical nic for the service console (=2 physical ports on two seperat physical nics) and one other port of each physical nic for VMkernel (=2 physical ports on two seperat nics). So we do not mix any traffic.

chris

[AntonVZhbankov]

Oh, I see. It's ok then.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Check out my Topology Blogs for the best way to use your 8 ports. You have 8 ports available to you, so 8 pNICs in effect.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[private00]

Thanks, but thats not the problem. Why Vmware discripe to use a active/standby config and not a active/active config for the SC? Thats the question

thanks, chris

[atbnet]

If you have active/active in the vSwitch that the service console uses, then both network adaptors will be used. This will vary depending on the load balancing method you have selected.

If you have active/standby only one network adaptor will be used until the other fails. Depending on your failover settings it may not even it has failed.

For example say your switch fails for the link is still technically up (i.e. link light) it wont failover.

I use active/active for all my vSwitches (inc service consoles) balanced between two physical core switches. If one switch is rebooted for maintence etc or a cable is unplugged there is as much as one packet loss.

Andy, VMware Certified Professional / VMware vExpert Award 2009

Help, Guides and How Tos

If you found this information useful please award points using the buttons at the top of the page accordingly.

[spf62]

We/I also have this same question...

When editing the service console switch, do I edit the "VSWITCH" port or the "Service Console" port? and we are only concerned with failover, do select the "Override the vswitch failover order" and put the secondary NIC in the stanby?

thanks in advance!