How to do NIC Teaming?

[crescendas]

I know it is possible to have 2 NICs for VM Network, but is it as simple as adding 2 NICs to the VM Network? Because I notice that once I reboot my ESX 4.0 host, the teamed VM Network will fail to work. Do I need to do any configuration on the switch(es) that these 2 NICs are connected to as well?

Also, is it possible to configure or select the teaming to have 1 active and 1 standby or load balancing?

[depping]

Yes it is and it's that simple. Active/Standby does not make sense in this case as clearly you would want to utilize both nics. I would recommend to set spanning tree to portfast on the appropriate physical switch port to avoid the switch blocking traffic. Rest should just work fine.

Duncan

VMware Communities User Moderator | VCP | VCDX

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[crescendas]

Thanks for replying. Is portfast something I need to configure on my switches? Any idea why the teamed VM Network will fail unless I delete and recreate the Network and IP again after a reboot?

[danm66]

a virtual machine portgroup does not get an IP address, so your last statement doesn't make sense that you have to delete and recreate it after a reboot. can you upload a screenshot of what you are talking about???

[crescendas]

Hi, the IP I mentioned is the 2 NICs teamed in the VM Network, not the VMs portfast. The teamed NIC will not work after a reboot.

[danm66]

So, are you using vlan's? if you are, what does your port configuration look like for the physical switch?

[depping · Accepted solution]

Portfast is configured on the physical switch indeed. For some reason I doubt it is the issue you're experiencing.

Can you please detail your config:

vSwitch - NICS attached - Trunking - Load Balancing

Duncan

VMware Communities User Moderator | VCP | VCDX

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[crescendas]

Hi depping,

Since it's not working, I have already remove the Teaming. But what I did was very straight forward. I simply go to Configuration Tab > Networking > Click Properties of vSwitch0 > at Network Adapters Tab, click Add button and tick vmnic3 etc. Do I need to do anything else? Does this NIC need to have static IP or can it works with Dynamic IP?

[danm66]

No, just make sure it is setup for the same subnet(s) as the other nic's switchport in the physical switch. You can't assign an IP (or DHCP) to a vm portgroup or a vswitch. You only assign IP's to a vmkernel or service console portgroup.

[crescendas]

Thanks for all the replies, I have marked them helpful and answer.