VLAN configuration on virtual switches, physical switches, and virtual machines
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VLAN configuration on virtual switches, physical switches, and virtual machines

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Article ID: 311764

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article describes the various VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX.

Virtual LAN (VLAN) implementation is recommended in ESXi/ESX networking environments because:
  • It integrates ESXi/ESX into a pre-existing network
  • It secures network traffic
  • It reduces network traffic congestion
  • iSCSI traffic requires an isolated network


Environment

VMware vCenter Server 
VMware vSphere ESXi

Resolution

Video tutorial for various VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX:



VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX:

There are three methods of VLAN tagging that can be configured on ESXi/ESX:

External Switch Tagging (EST)

Virtual Switch Tagging (VST)

Note: The Native VLAN is not tagged and thus requires no VLAN ID to be set on the ESXi/ESX portgroup.

Virtual Guest Tagging (VGT)

  • All VLAN tagging is performed by the virtual machine.
  • You must install an 802.1Q VLAN trunking driver inside the virtual machine.
  • VLAN tags are preserved between the virtual machine networking stack and external switch when frames are passed to/from virtual switches.
  • Physical switch ports are set to trunk port.
  • See this example snippet of code from a Cisco switch port configuration:

    switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
    switchport mode trunk
    switchport trunk allowed vlan x,y,z
    spanning-tree portfast trunk



Additional Information