New Training: vSphere Standard Switches

In this 10-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Keith Barker describes and demonstrates the logic and methods for networking in vSphere using a virtual standard switch (VSS). Watch this new VMware training.

Watch the full course: VMware Certified Professional

This training includes:

• 10 videos

• 1.1 hours of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Intro to vSphere Standard Switches

• Overview and Vocabulary

• Default vSwitch Settings

• Creating a New Virtual Switch

• Testing the New Switch

• Switch Policies

• VMkernel L3 Interfaces

• Redundant Uplinks

• vSphere Standard Switch Hands on Lab

• Standard Switch Lab Walkthrough

A Brief Introduction to Networking Components in vSphere

One of the many benefits of virtual machines is the ability to reduce TCO (total cost of ownership). This includes not having to purchase as many physical servers to run individual applications or additional networking equipment. In the same way a virtual machine host, like VSphere, can utilize a single CPU among many virtual machines, it can do the same for network cards as well.

When virtual machines are installed inside of VSphere, they still need a networking environment to communicate with each other and the rest of the IT environment. VSphere has two components it uses for this:

Virtual network interface adapters

Virtual switches

Each virtual machine is assigned its own virtual network interface adapter. This is like a physical NIC in different computers. As such, each virtual machine will also have its own IP address, MAC address, networking stack, etc…

Each virtual machine then uses those virtual NICs to communicate with a virtual switch. The physical network adapters on the host machine are shared with this virtual switch. The virtual switch routes traffic between the virtual machines as well as the rest of the network. If the physical NIC assigned to that virtual switch isn't operating properly or connected, virtual machines connected to the virtual switch using that physical NIC can still communicate with each other but not the rest of the network.