How many virtual NICs can be created for a guest machine?

[helphelphelp]

Hi,

I have a question which should be rather simple to answer. I have been looking at the "Configuration Maximums" pdf file for both ESX 3.0 or 4.0 server, but there seems to be no mention of the maximum number of virtual NICs that can be created for a single guest machine. I have tried to create a guest machine, but it seems that I can only create a max of 4 virtual NICs for my guest machine. I need 12. Can someone point me in the correct direction or did I make a mistake somewhere?

Many thanks in advance!

[Gerrit_Lehr]

It's mentioned in the configuration maximums, first page at the bottom:

Number of NICs per virtual machine 4

Kind Regards,

Gerrit Lehr

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[helphelphelp]

Hi Gerrit,

Thanks for the quick reply! Seems like I missed out that part previously. So now I can confirm that versions prior to ESX 4.0 support only 4 virtual NICs per virtual machine while ESX 4.0 supports 10 virtual NICs. Is there any way I can get 12 other than use 2 virtual machines? Any recommendations or best practice?

Many thanks again!

[AntonVZhbankov]

Yes, ESX versions prior to 4.0 support 4 NICs per VM, and ESX 4.0 supports 10 NICs per VM if VM hardware ver. 7 is used.

Why do you need 12 virtual NICs? Maybe there is better solution for your problem.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Gerrit_Lehr]

Anton is right, there might be a better solution depending on what you are trying to achive. I never needed a VM with more then 4 NICs to be honest.

Kind Regards,

Gerrit Lehr

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[helphelphelp]

Hi Anton and Gerrit,

I am sourcing for ways to restore my firewall as well as the management console in a DR scenario and we may be limited to only one physical machine for this purpose. Therefore, using VMware is rather appealing to me. However, my firewall has 12 NICs to serve twelve different network segments. It is not possible to combine any of the network segments. What would you recommend in such a situation?

Thanks again!

[Gerrit_Lehr]

Ok, tough one. Even though that is not neccessarily the best system to run on ESX, you might be able to connect different IP networks on the same vNIC. Otherwise you could break the thing into two VMs indeed. Both requiering some configuraition to be done. But that is plain theory since I got no details about your setup.

Kind Regards,

Gerrit Lehr

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[helphelphelp]

Yeah I agree it's a tough one. Trust them to come up with such stringent conditions. Nevertheless, I'll take a look at what you have suggested and see which condition I can bend.

I'll update this thread whether I hit my goal or hit my head.

Thanks again!

[AntonVZhbankov]

Actually it is not a good idea to implement such firewall on ESX, since you have to have 12 NICs for firewall traffic only plus service console etc. So 14 physical NICs at least.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[helphelphelp]

Agreed totally. I guess they wanted to plan for the worst case scenario, i.e. resource limitations. I do already have a plan for a "better-case" scenario where I will be given enough resources. No choice about it, got a job to do. I don't want to be caught with my pants down in the event that they really activate the worst case scenario for me.

[bulletprooffool]

Esx 3 / 3.5 - 4Nics per VM

ESX4 - 10 Nics per VM

I am guessing you want multiple NICs for something like testing Exchange? if so, the way to resolve the problem is to install a router appliance and use the router appliance to manage your traffic to your various Nics.

[kjb007]

If you need more than 4 physical NICs that ESX 3.x can provide, you can use virtual NICs as well. This would require virtual guest tagging, and the use of VLANs inside of your virtual machine. If you are using VLAN segmentation, then you will need to use an E1000 NIC, the intel Advanced Network Services driver for that NIC. That will allow you to create mulitple virtual NICs, and set VLAN tags at the vm level, and will allow you to have more NICs available. Granted, they are not physical NICs, only logical NICs separated by VLANs.

-KjB

VMware vExpert

[helphelphelp]

Hi kjb007,

Is there a limit on the number of virtual NICs that can be created with E1000 NIC?

[gnie]

4 NICs for ESX3.5

[kjb007]

Correction, there is a maximum of 64 VLANs per server.

-KjB

VMware vExpert

[helphelphelp]

I see. Ok, I'll see what I can do with this information.

Thanks!

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Moved to Virtual Machine and Guest OS forum.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, Virtualization Practice Analyst[/url]
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