In this lesson we show you how to create a Virtual Switch on a VMware ESXi host. Follow us!

1. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
VMWARE ESXi 5.x HOW TO

2. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
GENERAL INFOS AND APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT
With this simple procedure we will show how to create a
Virtual Switch on a VMware ESXi host.
Virtual switches allow virtual machines on one vSphere host to
communicate with each other using the same protocols as
physical switches. The virtual switch emulates a traditional
physical Ethernet network switch by forwarding frames at the
data-link layer.
Distributed virtual switches provide the same features and
functions as do virtual switches, but with one major
difference: while a standard virtual switch can’t be assigned
to more than one host server at a time, a distributed virtual
switches can.
The network environment is shown in the picture.

3. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
CREATE A vNETWORK STANDARD SWITCH
Highlight the host and click the Configuration tab
Click the Networking link
Click Add Networking
Under the Connection Types tab, click Virtual Machine
Click Next
Select which virtual switch will handle the network traffic
for this connection and click Next
Under the Port Group Properties tab, insert Network Label
name and VLAN ID option
Click Next
Verify that your virtual switch settings are correct
Click Finish

4. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
CREATE A vNETWORK DISTRIBUTED SWITCH
Highlight the host and click the Configuration tab
Click the Networking link
Click New vNetwork Distributed Switch
Specify the Name of the Distributed Switch
Specify the Number of Uplink Ports (maximum number of
physical adapters per host)
Click Next
Choose when to add hosts to the vDS and click Add now or
Add later
Choose the ESXi host
Select physical adapter
Click Next
Click Choose Automatically create a default port group
Click Next > Finish

5. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
ADD NETWORK CARDS TO A STANDARD VSWITCH WITH CLI
1. To list current vswitch configuration, use the command:
esxcli network vswitch standard list
2. To list vmkernel interfaces and their configuration, use the command:
esxcli network ip interface list
3. To display listing of physical adapters and their link state, use the command:
esxcli network nic list
4. To add network cards (known as vmnics) to or from a Standard vSwitch, use the command:
esxcli network vswitch standard uplink add –u vmnicX –v vSwitchX
vswitch name
uplink name

6. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
ADD NETWORK CARDS TO A DISTRIBUTED VSWITCH WITH CLI
1. To list Distributed Switch configuration, use the command:
esxcli network vswitch dvs vmware list
2. To unlink/remove a vDS uplink, use the command:
esxcfg-vswitch -Q vmnic -V dvPort_ID_of_vmnic dvSwitch
3. To add a vDS uplink, use the command:
esxcfg-vswitch -P vmnic -V unused_dvPort_ID dvSwitch
PortGroup number
vmnics Port ID
distributed vswitch name
vmnics Port ID

7. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
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8. VMWARE ESXi 5.x - HOW TO
How to create a Virtual Switch
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