vSphere Networking Study Notes

vSphere Networking Study Notes

Virtual Switches

• Definition: A virtual switch allows communication between virtual machines (VMs) and between VMs and the physical network.

• Types:

  • Standard Switch (vSwitch):
    • Manages network connections for VMs on a single host.
    • Configuration is host-centric; changes apply only to that host.
    • Supports features like VLAN tagging and port mirroring.

• Functionality:

  • Provides Layer 2 networking.
  • Can connect to physical network adapters.
  • Supports grouping of VMs for better traffic management.

• Configuration Options:

  • Port groups: Create logical groupings for networking policies.
  • NIC teaming: For load balancing and failover.
  • Security settings: Control NIC behavior (promiscuous mode, MAC address changes, forged transmits).

Distributed Switches

• Definition: A distributed switch spans multiple hosts, allowing centralized management of network configurations across those hosts.

• Key Features:

  • Provides a single point of management for multiple vSphere hosts.
  • Consistent networking policies and settings across the entire data center.

• Components:

  • Distributed Virtual Port Group: Similar to port groups in standard switches, but configured at the distributed switch level.
  • Distributed Virtual Switches (vDS): Created in vCenter and managed centrally.

• Benefits:

  • Simplifies management: Changes made once apply to multiple hosts.
  • Enhanced features: Supports monitoring (NetFlow, port mirroring), VMware vMotion compatibility, and Traffic Filtering.
  • High availability: Offers better VM mobility and uptime.

• Configuration Parameters:

  • VLAN configuration for traffic segmentation.
  • Load balancing and failover settings.
  • Network I/O control for resource allocation.

• Considerations:

  • Requires vCenter Server for management.
  • Potential complexity in configuration compared to standard switches.

Virtual Switches

• A virtual switch is a software component that enables communication between VMs and the physical network.
• There are two primary types of virtual switches: Standard switches and Distributed switches.
• Standard Switches (vSwitch) are host-centric and manage network connections for VMs on a single host.
• Standard Switches support features like VLAN tagging and port mirroring.
• Standard Switches provide Layer 2 networking functionality and can connect to physical network adapters, enabling communication with external networks.
• Standard Switches allow for grouping of VMs using port groups, facilitating better traffic management.
• Standard Switches can be configured with various options, including security settings, NIC teaming, and port groups.

Distributed Switches

• Distributed Switches (vDS) are centrally managed switches that span multiple hosts.
• Distributed Switches simplify network management by providing centralized control of network configurations across the data center.
• Distributed Switches offer consistent networking policies and settings across all connected hosts.
• Distributed Switches are managed through vCenter Server and utilize components like Distributed Virtual Port Groups (DVPGs) and vCenter Server.
• Distributed Switches provide features like monitoring (NetFlow, port mirroring), VMware vMotion compatibility, and traffic filtering.
• Distributed Switches contribute to higher availability by offering better VM mobility and uptime.
• Distributed Switches require vCenter Server for management and can be more complex to configure than standard switches.

Explore the essential concepts of vSphere networking, focusing on virtual switches and distributed switches. Understand their definitions, functionalities, and configuration options, including security settings and NIC teaming. This quiz is perfect for those studying virtualization technologies.