Firewall blocks traffic for network-backed virtual serial ports

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Before you connect network-backed virtual serial ports, enable a firewall rule set to prevent the firewall from blocking traffic.

Note: Do not change the allowed IP list for either rule set. Updates to the IP list can affect other network services that might be blocked by the firewall.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0

Resolution

1. Log in to a vCenter Server system using the vSphere Client.
2. Select the host in the vSphere inventory.
3. Click the Configuration tab.
4. Click Security Profile.
5. Click Properties.
6. Select the rule set to enable:
   
   
   • VM serial port connected to vSPC. Use to connect the serial port output through a network with the Use virtual serial port concentrator option enabled to allow only outgoing communication from the host.
   • VM serial port connected over network. Use to connect the serial port output through a network without the virtual serial port concentrator.
     
7. Click OK.