Distributed virtual switch (DVS) port groups missing on ESXi host.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information on why standard switch networks or distributed switch port groups are not showing up on an ESXi host.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x

Cause

After changing management VLAN and IP address of a ESXi host and adding this back to a Distributed Switch, the host's virtual switch topology does not show all the Distributed Switch port groups:

Resolution

This is an expected behavior. When an ESXi host is added to a Distributed Switch, it is given what is called a host proxy switch, which is a switch that resides on every host that is associated with a vSphere Distributed Switch. The host proxy switch replicates the networking configuration set on the vSphere Distributed Switch to the particular host.

The topology diagram of a host proxy switch only shows the adapters attached to the switch ports on the host, and any VMs and vmkernels attached to the Distributed Switch's port groups. The topology diagram of the host proxy switch does not show port groups of the Distributed Switch if they are unused by the host. The entire Distributed Switch topology can be seen directly on the distributed switch.

To see the Distributed Switch's topology:

1. Select the Networks tab in the left sidebar of vCenter.
2. Select the Distributed Switch.
3. Select Configure > Topology.

 

Additional Information

vSphere Networking