The following procedure will help you create VMkernel interfaces on vSphere Standard Switches:
- Log in to the vSphere Web Client, navigate the vCenter inventory and select the ESXi host to create the vSphere Standard Switch on.
- With the ESXi host selected, navigate to Configure | Networking | VMkernel Adapters to view the existing VMkernel interfaces on the host. Click on the
icon to bring up the Add Networking wizard:
- On the Add Networking wizard, select VMkernel Network Adapter and click Next to continue:
- On the Select target device screen, you are allowed to Select an existing standard switch or create a new one for the VMkernel interface. In this case, we are using an existing standard switch. Click Next to continue:
- On the Port properties screen, supply a network label (this is nothing but the name of the port group that will be created to house the VMkernel interface), a VLAN ID, a TCP/IP stack and the services you would like to enable:
ESXi has three system TCP/IP stacks—one for VMotion traffic, a stack for provisioning traffic and a default stack for other services. Read the recipe, Configuring VMkernel TCP/IP Stacks for more information.
- On the IPv4 settings screen, you can choose to obtain the IPv4 configuration from a DHCP server or create a static configuration. It is always recommended you set a static configuration for your VMkernel interfaces. Select the option Use static IPv4 settings, supply an IP address and its subnet mask:
The gateway and DNS settings are inherited from the TCP/IP stack in use. Read the recipe, Configuring VMkernel TCP/IP Stacks for more information.
- On the Ready to complete screen, review the settings and click Finish:
- The Recent Tasks pane should show an Update network configuration screen completed successfully.
- The newly create VMkernel interface will be listed under Configure | Networking | VMkernel adapters:
- The virtual switch should show a new port group housing the interface. Note that the port group's name is the network label value that was supplied during the wizard:
