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VMware ESX Server 2.1
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 Changing Network Connections

Changing Network Connections

Use the Network Connections option to configure the network connections. This option allows you to create new virtual switches or edit existing switches.

Creating a New Virtual Switch

Creating a New Virtual Switch

  1. Log in to the VMware Management Interface as root. The Status Monitor page appears.
  2. Click the Options tab, then click the Network Connections tab. The Create Virtual Switch window opens and displays configuration options for the new switch.
  3. Enter a name for the virtual switch in the Network Label field. The Network Labels feature allows you to specify a network label for switches and port groups that are used by virtual machines.
  4. Bind Outbound Adapters lists all available adapters. Select an adapter to assign it to the new switch.
  5. Other Outbound Adapters lists the adapters currently assigned to other switches. Select an adapter to reassign it to the new switch.
  6. When you are finished selecting physical adapters, click Create Switch. This creates the new virtual switch and closes the window.
Editing an Existing Virtual Switch

Editing an Existing Virtual Switch

  1. To edit an existing virtual switch and its adapters, click Edit. The Edit Virtual Switch window opens and displays existing configuration and adapter settings for the switch.
  2. Edit the network label of the switch in the Network Label field. The Network Labels feature allows you to specify a network label for switches and port groups that are used by virtual machines.

    Caution: If virtual machines are configured to use the switch and you change the name of the label, the virtual machines will not power on.

  3. Bind Outbound Adapters lists all available adapters. Select an adapter to assign it to the switch.
  4. To route network traffic locally, deselect all of the adapters and click OK. An internal adapter is created for the virtual switch. If you chose this configuration, a notification message appears and displays "No outbound adapters. Traffic routed locally."
  5. Under Other Outbound Adapters, Bind Unassigned Adapters lists any unassigned adapters. Select an adapter to assign it to the switch. You can transfer any listed adapters from other switches to the virtual switch you are configuring.
  6. When you are finished selecting physical adapters, click OK to save the new switch configuration and close the window.
  7. To remove the switch, click Remove Switch. This removes the virtual switch and does not save any configuration changes made to the edit page.
Creating Port Groups

Creating Port Groups

Port groups are extensions of networks, using Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). VLANs allow configured networks to communicate securely among themselves as if connected to a common isolated physical network. To create a port group, there must be an existing network configured.

  1. Log in to the VMware Management Interface as root. The Status Monitor page appears.
  2. Click the Options tab, then click the Network Connections tab. The Virtual Switches window opens.
  3. To create a port group for a switch, click Add next to Port Groups. The Create Port Groups window opens and displays configuration options for a port group.
  4. Enter a name for the port group in the Port Group Label field.
  5. In the VLAN ID field, enter a number between 1 and 4095.
  6. Click Create Port Group. This creates the new port group and closes the window.
Disabling vmkernel VLAN Tagging

Disabling vmkernel VLAN Tagging

When Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are created within your ESX Server, the vmkernel, by default, manages the VLAN processing of Ethernet frames. If you do not want the vmkernel to manage VLAN processing, you can configure the vmkernel to pass all Ethernet frames between guest operating systems and the outside network.

To change your VLAN processing settings:

  1. From the Options tab, select Advanced Settings. The Advanced Settings page appears and displays a list of configuration parameters.
  2. Locate the parameter: Net.VlanTrunking.
  3. Click the value for the parameter. The Modify VMkernel Parameter window opens.
  4. In the Value entry field, enter 1 (one) to enable the parameter or 0 (zero) to disable the parameter.
  5. Click OK to close the window and save the setting.
Configuring Physical Adapters

Configuring Physical Adapters

Use the Network Connections option to view and configure the physical adapters assigned to the virtual machines. This option allows you to change the speed and duplex settings of the adapters.

Configuring Network Speed and Duplex Settings

Configuring Network Speed and Duplex Settings

When you use the VMware Management Interface to configure network settings for the Ethernet adapters assigned to virtual machines, you see the actual speed and duplex settings for each adapter. If the adapter is configured to Autonegotiate, these settings are automatically negotiated by the adapter. If these settings are not appropriate, click Edit next to the physical adapter you want to change.

From the Physical Adapters details page, choose the settings you want from the Configured Speed, Duplex pull-down list. Click OK to save the updated configured speed.

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