vDS on a server with 2 nics

[GSS344]

Hi,

I have two active network adapters on my esxi 5.5 host. I am planning to migrate to a vDS, but want to be sure I have the right setup:

If I put my vcenter Server VM on the 2nd physical NIC and leave the first NIC as the default vmKernel, would this avoid the potential rollback and be the recommended way?

[rcporto]

Just do the following:

1. Create the vDS;

2. Add the host to vDS;

3. Move one of vmnics to the vDS uplink;

4. Migrate the management vmkernel to vDS;

5. Migrate the virtual machines to vDS;

6. Move the last vmnic from the vSS to vDS;

7. Delete the vSS.

[Sateesh_vCloud]

Let me know if this helps ..

http://blog.mwpreston.net/2013/10/28/8-weeks-of-vcap-migrating-to-vsphere-distributed-switches/

[GSS344]

Thanks for the tips. What I am confused about is whether the vmkernel and vm network for the vcenter server should be on seperate vmnics. Please clarify.

[rcporto]

The VMKernel interface is from your vSphere ESXi host, not from the vCenter... the vCenter virtual machine will have a virtual network adapter that bind to a port group that is part of a virtual switch and that uses vmnics to get access to physical network.

The VMkernel interface also bind to a port group, but for isolation, a recommended best practice is place on a different port group and not use the same port group of your virtual machines.

[ysalimi]

Creation of second VMkernel for each host is verry recommended during migration.