The vCenter Server provides a centralized vSphere Web Client interface from which you can configure, monitor and administer virtual machine access switching across associated hosts for an entire data center. Like a vSphere standard switch, each VDS is a network hub for virtual machines. A distributed switch can forward traffic internally between virtual machines or link to an external network by connecting to physical Ethernet adapters, also known as uplink adapters.

Setting up vSphere Distributed Switch Architecture

Setting up a networking environment using vSphere Distributed Switches involves creating a vSphere Distributed Switch in the Networking inventory view of the vSphere Client. vSphere Distributed Switches are created at the datacenter level in the Networks view of the vSphere Client. After a vSphere Distributed Switch is created, hosts and distributed port groups can be added to it.

Host networking options are configured through the individual host networking configuration page or using host profiles.

Finally, virtual machine NICs are connected to the distributed port groups. Connect virtual machine NICs through individual virtual machine NIC configuration or by migrating virtual machine networking from the vSphere Distributed Switch itself.

How to Configure a vSphere Distributed Switch

Accomplish the following procedures in the order shown to configure a vSphere Distributed Switch:

 

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