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mav1c
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ESXi 6.5 - How to make second Port Group available to add to Virtual Machine Network Adapter?

I'm new to VMWare/vSphere/ESXi so struggling getting this initial configuration complete. I have installed ESXi 6.5, and have been able to complete most of the configuration on the host. I installed a new Virtual Machine from an OVA file, and that went well.

Now, we have two networks. A management network, and a data network. These are two completely isolated networks. I was able to configure the Host to connect to the two networks, and I created a new Port Group/vSwitch/VLAN on the Host. I want to add that Network to the VM, but then I edit the Virtual Machine and add the Network Adapter and attempt to assign the second Port Group, it is not available in the drop down list. How to I make that available to assign the the 3rd Network Adapter.

Virtual_Machine_Network_Port_Group_Not_Available.JPG

Host_Port_Groups.JPG

vSwitch1.JPG

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cyberfed2727
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vSwitch1 does not have a Virtual Machine port group only a VMkernel port group. This is why you are not seeing vSwitch1 as a drop down choice on your VM.

Go back to vSwitch1 and create a "Virtual Machine Port Group". After doing so you'll be able to connect your VM to it.

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cyberfed2727
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vSwitch1 does not have a Virtual Machine port group only a VMkernel port group. This is why you are not seeing vSwitch1 as a drop down choice on your VM.

Go back to vSwitch1 and create a "Virtual Machine Port Group". After doing so you'll be able to connect your VM to it.

virtualg_uk
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Yes, for clarity; vmkernel port groups are for host management traffic only, They are not for VM network traffic which is why it is not available for your Virtual Machine

As the previous poster said, you need to create a VM port group on the required vSwitch


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
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mav1c
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Thanks. Sounds simple enough, but I don't see where to create a "Virtual Machine Port Group". How is that done? Sorry, like I said, totally new to this.

UPDATE: Using the vSphere client I was able to add the Virtual Machine Port Group and assign it, so thanks again for the assistance.

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Sharantyr3
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I think other users who answered you didn't tried the 6.5 html client

There is a bug clearly that blocks you from selecting a portgroup on the edit VM settings, it only shows one portgroup.

Also can't rename default portgroups but it's minor

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PCTechStream
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1.PNG

2.PNG

Raul.

VMware VDI Administrator.

http://ITCloudStream.com/

Stay Connected: Like > Share > Comment > Reply > Helpful > Answered

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Sharantyr3
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That isn't the embedded esxi html5 client. I was talking about this one as the thread op I guess

Anyway destroying and recreating PG made them available. Seems random issue like negative memory in edit settings.

PromiseNick
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I have the same issue.  I also deleted and recreated.  I can only select the default "VM Network" port group from the drop-down whenever editing a VM's network settings.

Running ESXI 6.5 Build 5310538

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Sreejesh_D
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are you using HTML5 webclient or the flash based webclient ?

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PromiseNick
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HTML5.  I just jumped from 5.5 and was a standard Windows Client user till now...  but since that's gone trying to adjust to web client.  How do you access the flash client?

EDIT: I should mention this is a Stand-alone ESXI server not part of VCenter and adding /vsphere-client to the URL doesn't go anywhere.

EDITEDIT: Ok looks like new network magically appeared minutes later in HTML5 client.  Thanks!

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Sreejesh_D
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ok, the host client in esxi 6.5 is native html + java script based applicaiton. There is no flash client version for host client. But there is one available for vCenter.

https://<vCenter>/vsphere-client  - traditional web client.

https://<vcenter>/ui - new Html5 based webclient.

pastedImage_2.png

can you please check the available portgroup list? there should be more than one VM portgroups.

I just chechedk on vSPhere 6.5 host client. I can edit VM NIC by choosing one of the porgroups from the list.

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PromiseNick
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Yeah I can add it now.  But I've had one available for a long time.  I then deleted that one, and added another.. but still it didn't show up until a long time later.  Seems the new client is a little flaky.  I've seen a bunch of other odd issues as well.


Thanks for your help!

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Sreejesh_D
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I agree with you, host client was an experimental product (fling) which became GA in ESXi 6.5. Still its evolving, it will take some time to be in par with vsphere client with respect to features and stability.

Please find more details here ESXi Embedded Host Client

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jmedway
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For those of us stuck in stand-alone 6.5.0 ESXi-land, if there a CLI option to add a port group to a VM NIC? Or some other way?

I've already created my "storage" portgroup on a second vswitch on a second NIC which is directly connected to my Synology.

I see nothing but MTU and the assigned IP that's different between the two as far as settings, but I cannot add anything but "VM Network" in the UI.

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hussainbte
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Command to create portgroup on ESXi standard switch from console or SSH.

esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup add --p sample --vswitch-name=vSwitch1

Command to set vLAN ID:

esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set -v 250 -p sample

Command to add Network adapter to the VM from that portroup

vim-cmd vmsvc/devices.createnic <vmid> unit t type network

Example: vim-cmd vmsvc/devices.createnic 145 2 e1000 sample

If you found my answers useful please consider marking them as Correct OR Helpful Regards, Hussain https://virtualcubes.wordpress.com/
user9922
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This solution is for ESX 6.5 web-client. I was not able to select another port-group in the VM either if I created the switch and port-group in the web-client.

I had to create the switch and port-groupe using the CLI esxcli network vswitch commands (doc1, doc2) :


Syntax:

esxcli network vswitch standard add -v=vSwitchName
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup add -p=portgroup-name -v=SwitchName

Example:

esxcli network vswitch standard add -v=SW_iSCSI

esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup add -p=PG_iSCSI -v=SW_iSCSI

To change MTU on swith and port-groupt:

esxcli network vswitch standard set -m=5000 -v=SW_iSCSI

pg.png

elesueur
VMware Employee
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Hi everyone,

In the original post, the screen shot shows that the portgroup on the vswitch has a vmkernel interface attached to it. Portgroups with vmkernel interfaces are not available to attach to VM virtual network adapters.

To create a VM network in the ESXi Host Client you would click on Networking, then Port groups, then Add port group. You can then choose the vswitch you want to use and any security settings.

i.e.

Screen Shot 2017-10-05 at 9.04.46 AM.png

Screen Shot 2017-10-05 at 9.05.39 AM.png

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sethcrosby
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This is still definitely an issue in the ESXi HTML5 client on 6.5U1 release 5973321 which is latest to date. The additional port groups do not immediately show up as available networks. After some time it seems it just appears in the list.

This is not the same case when you're running from within the vCenter Flash or HTML5 client.

The rub is that there is no locally installed client available for ESXi 6.5 any longer, so if you're managing a host without vCenter (say installing vCenter like I was today?), you may be stuck for a bit.

I was installing vCenter and it mistakenly got put on the default VM Network, whereas I had built the networking for a management VLAN. The VM port group existed, but the appliance couldn't be moved to the proper vm port group because of this bug.

Can anyone share the cli commands to change a vm port group on a running VM?

acatic
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Same issue and fix for me: removed and recreated port group; instantly was able to select it thereafter.  It was a bit of a headache.

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DCEworks
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This is still a problem running 6.5.0 Update 1 (Build 5969303).  For those of us running ESXi 6.50 in standalone mode the web client is completely unusable between the negative ram values, not being able to add network connections to a VM, and a rath of other "minor problems".  V-Center Server does not offer us any benefit in the small business environment when running a single host and should not be the acceptable answer from VMware.  The solution that the VMware rep posted (Raul) does not apply to those of us stuck with the garbage web client.  It seems that VMware has completely ignored it customer base and are focusing on all of the wrong things.  The web client is clearly not ready for production and has not been ever since its release.  Forcing us to use it and deprecating all of the features from the C client was a horrible move.  All of these issues have made VMware almost completely irrelevant.  We, along with many others involved with small business, are actively exploring other hypervisor options.

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