Read on:
VMware for Beginners – vMotion and DRS: Part 11
VMware for Beginners – vSphere HA Configuration: Part 12(a)
VMware for Beginners – vSphere HA Configuration: Part 12(b)
VMware for Beginners – vSphere HA Configuration: Part 12(c)
VMware for Beginners – What is vSphere Proactive HA?: Part 13
VMware for Beginners – What is VMware vSphere Fault Tolerance and How Does it Work?: Part 14(a)
VMware for Beginners – What is VMware vSphere Fault Tolerance and How Does it Work?: Part 14(b)
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In the last VMware for Beginners post, we discussed vSphere Fault Tolerance. This blog post teaches us about VMware vSphere Distributed Switch(vDS).
We could learn about vSphere vDS at the beginning of this series. But I think it is better to learn after you have all your vSphere infrastructure configured, and now we can create and configure vDS with its full features and use cases when using a virtual network.
Another reason to only discuss this subject now, it is a subject that is going to be discussed in detail. It will have several blog posts, so discussing it after our VMware environment is implemented makes more sense.
What will we discuss in this vSphere Distributed Switch blog post series?
- What is vSphere Distributed Switch?
- vSphere Distributed Switch main features
- vSphere Distributed Switch requirements
- How to create and configure a vSphere Distributed Switch?
vSphere Distributed Switch is a subject which has a lot to talk about. So I will write some blog posts about this subject. In these blog posts, we will discuss what a vDS is, how a vDS works, what are the vDS main features and how to configure and use vDS.
What will we discuss in this first blog post about vSphere Distributed Switch:
- What is vSphere Distributed Switch?
- vSphere Distributed Switch main features(part one)
What is vSphere Distributed Switch?
vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) is a centralized and advanced virtual switch designed for VMware vSphere environments. Unlike standard virtual switches operating locally within a single ESXi host, vSphere Distributed Switches provide a consistent network configuration across multiple hosts, clusters, and data centers.
vSphere Distributed Switches are managed by vCenter, which allows administrators to create, configure, monitor, and manage network settings across all ESXi hosts associated with the vDS. By using a centralized management interface, vDS can simplify network management tasks for large-scale VMware vSphere deployments.
Some of the key features of vSphere Distributed Switches include:
- Centralized network management: vDS allows you to centrally manage network settings such as Private vLANs, QoS, LACP, and security policies from a single location
- Advanced network traffic management: vDS supports features such as Network I/O Control (NIOC), which allows you to prioritize traffic and allocate bandwidth based on specific requirements
- Network monitoring and troubleshooting: vDS provides enhanced network visibility and monitoring capabilities, including NetFlow and port Mirroring support
- Improved scalability: vDS can support up to 30,000 virtual ports and 1,024 ESXi hosts in a single switch, providing scalable networking for even the largest VMware vSphere environments
vSphere Distributed Switch main features
The following features are only available on vSphere Distributed Switches, not Standard Switches.
In this section, we will explain each feature and show the option in vCenter to select it.
You will find all the main features in the vDS configuration section, but I will show them individually.
The configuration and enabling(some are disabled by default) of the main features are done on the vDS level. It then can be enabled or configured in the Portgroup.
Backup and Restore vDS network configuration
Essentially, this feature allows administrators to save a snapshot of their vDS configuration, which can be used to restore the network settings in case of hardware failure, accidental deletion, or other unexpected events. This backup and restore process ensures that the virtual network remains operational and minimizes downtime due to network failures.
The backup and restore process can be performed using the vSphere Web Client GUI by browsing to the distributed Switch, right-clicking on it, and selecting the “Export Configuration” option. The backed-up file can then be restored by selecting the vDS in the vSphere Client, right-clicking it, and selecting “Settings” followed by “Restore Configuration”.
The Backup and Restore vDS network configuration feature can also be used if you want to migrate to a new vCenter and need a copy of the network from the old vCenter.
We have often used this feature in production when it is impossible to do a complete migration to migrate a legacy vCenter(version 6.5/6.7) to a new vCenter.
Link Aggregation Control Protocol(LACP) Support
LACP in vSphere Distributed Switch is called LAG (Link Aggregation Group).
In a vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS), LAG (Link Aggregation Group) consolidates multiple network links into a single logical link.
This process allows for higher bandwidth, improved redundancy, and load balancing across multiple physical network interfaces.
By configuring a LAG on a vDS, administrators can bundle two or more vmnics into a single logical interface, which appears as a single connection to connected VMs. This logical connection provides multiple paths for traffic to flow between the physical hosts, allowing for improved performance and availability.
LAG in a vDS can be configured using the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) or Static LAG techniques. LACP provides dynamic negotiation between the physical Switch and the vDS, while Static LAG requires manual configuration of the physical Switch.
To configure LAG in a vDS, administrators must first create a LAG group by selecting the vDS, then specifying the LAG parameters such as LAG mode (LACP or Static), number of uplinks, and load balancing algorithm. Once the LAG group is created, it can be assigned to a port group, enabling the virtual machines to use the consolidated link.
Enabling LACP can only be done at the vDS level, not on the vDS Portgroup.
Inbound Traffic Shaping
Inbound Traffic Shaping in vSphere Distributed Switch (vDS) is a technique used to control the amount of incoming traffic allowed to pass through a particular port or set of ports on the virtual Switch.
With Inbound Traffic Shaping, administrators can limit the rate at which incoming traffic flows into a virtual machine or a group of virtual machines. Administrators can prevent network congestion by restricting the amount of inbound traffic and ensuring that the available bandwidth is utilized effectively.
In vDS, Inbound Traffic Shaping is implemented using a traffic shaper, which allows administrators to set an upper limit on the rate of incoming traffic. The traffic shaper buffers incoming traffic and then releases it in compliance with the allowed rate, thereby controlling traffic flow into the virtual machine or port group.
To configure Inbound Traffic Shaping in vDS, administrators must first select the port group or virtual machine for which they want to enable traffic shaping. They can then specify the desired traffic shaping policy by defining the maximum peak bandwidth, average bandwidth, and burst size. Once the policy is applied, the traffic shaper limits the rate of incoming traffic according to the specified parameters.
With Inbound Traffic Shaping, we finish this blog post. We will discuss the rest of the vSphere Distributed Switch features in the next blog post in the series VMware for Beginners.
In the next blog posts in VMware for Beginners series, we discuss the rest of the features, the requirements, and how to create and configure a vSphere Distributed Switch.
Related Posts:
vSphere Standard Switch and Distributed Switch Part 1
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