Advices for multiple networks (vSwitches/vmkernels) on a single ESXi server

[franky234]

Hello everyone,

I want to know what's best, for speed and load balancing according to my configuration.

We currently have 12 physical ports on the ESXi 4.1 server distributed as :

vSwitch0

- 4 ports for SAN storage

--vmKernel port1 -> vmnic1

--vmKernel port2 -> vmnic2

--vmKernel port3 -> vmnic3

--vmKernel port4 -> vmnic4

vSwitch1

- 4 ports NETWORK 1

--vmKernel5 port -> vmnic5, vmnic6, vmnic7, vmnic8

vSwitch2

- 4 ports NETWORK 2

--vmKernel5 port -> vmnic9, vmnic10, vmnic11, vmnic12

Each network has the options :

- Load balancing : Route based on IP hash

- Network Failover detection : link status only

- Notify Switches : yes

- Failback : yes

So my question is :  Do I need to create additional vmKernel ports on network 1 and network 2 (like on vSwitch0) and bind them to static vmnic's ?  Is it faster ?

[idle-jam]

this might interest you: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/03/18/iscsi-multipathing-with-esxcliexploring-the-next-version-of-...

[AndreTheGiant]

Which kind of storage do you have?

Are you using the same NIC of the the same card for the storage traffic? If yes, it's not a good idea... maybe is better mix with NIC of other card.

Andre

[christg]

It is the best to balance your datastre connection over multiple network interface. Depending of your  load and network backbone , you can use 2, 4 or 6 interface for your datastore. using aditional port for your datastore will help if you have the backbone power, the san power and the vm disk load.

It is best to separate management network from vmotion and San storage.It is best use deditace vswitch for san traffic.

it is best creating 1 port for multiple vnic for load balancing

vmkernet port is for  ( ip storage / console / vmotion / ha traffic )

virtual machine port is for vm network

i can  suggest you this setting.

vSwitch0  - vmkernel - Management  traffic, Name: Management Network

vmnic0

vSwitch1 - vmkernel - Vmotion, management traffic, name: Vmotion

vmnic1

vSwitch3 - vmkernel - Management traffic,name: San Storage

vmnic 2

vmnic 3

vSwitch3 vmnetwork

vmnic 4

vmnic 5

vSwitch 4 vmnetwork

vmnick 6

vmnick 7

4 spare vmnic

monitor your vm network traffic traffic and spare vmnic if you need more

monitor your san traffic and add vmnick if you need more

use vlan to separate your san network from vm network.

[franky234]

Hello,

For a better understanding of my situation here are some screenshots of my virtual networking.   I want to know if I got the best configuration for speed / load balancing.

Regards,

[christg]

If all your iscsi is on the same subnet, for speed, balancing and fail over, you should bind all your iscsi adapter on the same vmkernel network.