How to Configure Network Settings on a VMware ESX Host in VMM
Updated: May 13, 2016
Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 - Virtual Machine Manager
You can use the following procedures to configure logical network settings on a VMware ESX host in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), and to view compliance information for physical network adapters on the host.
To make logical networks available to virtual machines on an external virtual network, you must associate logical networks with physical network adapters on the ESX host. Compliance information indicates whether all IP subnets and VLANs that are included in the network site that is associated with a logical network are assigned to the physical network adapter.
Prerequisites
Before you begin these procedures, make sure that the following prerequisites are met:
In the VMM console, you must have already configured the logical networks that you want to associate with the physical network adapter. For more information, see How to Create a Logical Network in VMM.
Note
By default, when you add a host to VMM management, VMM automatically creates logical networks on host physical network adapters that do not have logical networks defined. For an ESX host, the default behavior is to create logical networks that match the virtual network switch name. For more information about the default behavior, see How to Configure Global Network Settings in VMM.
If the logical network has associated network sites, one or more of the network sites must be scoped to the host group where the ESX host resides.
Important
VMM does not automatically create port groups on ESX hosts. Therefore, for logical networks and associated network sites, you must use vCenter Server to configure port groups with the necessary VLANs that correspond to the network sites.
To associate logical networks with a physical network adapter (for an external virtual network)
Open the Fabric workspace.
Note
The term fabric is used to denote the infrastructure - the software, servers, high-speed connections and switches that enable access to storage devices in a network.
In the Fabric pane, expand Servers, expand All Hosts, and then click the host group where the host resides.
In the Hosts pane, click the ESX host that you want to configure.
On the Host tab, in the Properties group, click Properties.
In the Host Name Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab.
Under Network Adapters, click the physical network adapter that you want to configure.
Under Logical network connectivity, select the check box next to each logical network that you want to associate with the physical network adapter.
Note
Be aware that all logical networks are listed here; not just the logical networks that are available to the host group where the host resides.
For example, if you configured the BACKEND logical network in the Preparing the Fabric in VMM section, and the BACKEND logical network is available to the host group where the host resides, select the check box next to BACKEND.
To view advanced settings, click Advanced. In the Advanced Network Adapter Properties dialog box for an ESX host, you can view the IP subnets and VLANs that are available for a given logical network on the network adapter. By default, for a selected logical network, the IP subnets and VLANs that are scoped to the host group or inherited through the parent host group are assigned to the network adapter.
Note
If no IP subnets or VLANs appear in the Available or Assigned columns, this indicates that no network site exists for the selected logical network that is scoped to the host group or inherited by the host group.
To view the available IP subnets and VLANs, click a logical network in the Logical network list. As mentioned earlier, you must use vCenter Server to configure port groups with the necessary VLANs that correspond to the network sites.
In the Logical network list, if the Unassigned option is available, you can view any VLANs that the physical network adapter is connected to, but are not included in a network site. If desired, you can define them in a network site.
To verify virtual networking settings
Open the Fabric workspace.
In the Fabric pane, expand Servers, expand All Hosts, and then click the host group where the host resides.
In the Hosts pane, click the host where you want to verify the virtual network settings.
On the Host tab, in the Properties group, click Properties.
In the Host Name Properties dialog box, click the Virtual Networks tab.
Under Virtual Networking, click the virtual network that you want to view the properties of.
Next to Logical network, verify that the logical network that you associated with the physical network adapter in the previous procedure is listed.
Tip
For a graphical overview of the networking configuration on a host, right-click the host, and then click View networking. Hover over an item to view additional information.
To view compliance information for a physical network adapter
Open the Fabric workspace.
In the Fabric pane, expand Networking, and then click Logical Networks.
On the Home tab, in the Show group, click Hosts.
In the Logical Network Information for Hosts pane, expand the host, and then click a physical network adapter.
In the Compliance column, view the compliance status.
A value of Fully compliant indicates that all subnets and VLANs that are included in the network site are assigned to the network adapter.
A value of Partially compliant indicates that there is only a partial match between the IP subnets and VLANs that are included in the network site and what is assigned to the network adapter.
In the details pane, the Logical network information section lists the assigned IP subnets and VLANs for the physical network adapter. If an adapter is partially compliant, you can view the reason why in the Compliance errors section.
A value of Non compliant indicates that there are no corresponding IP subnets and VLANs that are defined for the logical network that are assigned to the physical adapter.
See Also
Managing VMware ESX Hosts in VMM Overview
Configuring Networking in VMM