ESXi Network Configuration Help

[VirtualSingh]

VMware Guru’s, I have facts and little understanding about the networking but seek your opinion.

Question: We have 172.19.2.0 network and 10.128.100.0 network. What do we need on ESXi host so both network and their VMs can talk to each other?

Question: Where would the Distribution switch helps in virtual infrastructure as networking prospective?

Thanks

VirtualSingh

[a_p_]

No matter what you use - standard or distributed switches - the way to access both networks depends on whether or not you have VLANs in place.

Without VLANs you need to create two vSwitches, each one connected to one of the different networks. With VLANs in place you can setup the physical switch ports as 802.1Q ports (trunk ports for Cisco, tagged ports for others) and use a single vSwitch with multiple port groups, where each port group is tagged with the appropriate VLAN-ID.

André

[michaelstump]

You also asked about the Distribution switches... possibly, you mean vDS? vDS is great is you've got many hosts with identical, or nearly identical, network connectiviy requirements. It's also much easier to manage than one or more vSS per host. But for what you're describing, a single vSS would do the trick.

Hope this helps,

mike

[VirtualSingh]

Thanks Andre...this really helps.

[VirtualSingh]

Thanks Mike.

This helps for making decision to use a vswitch or vDS for all the hosts.