Network Configuration issue post adding to Cluster

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

An ESXi host doesn't have network connectivity after adding it to a vCenter cluster 

 

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

 

Cause

A VMkernel adapter(vmk) is a virtual network adapter in VMware ESXi that serves as the host's interface for 4 specific network services.

• vSphere vMotion
• IP storage
• Fault Tolerance logging
• vSAN 

*You only need to map a vmnic to a vmkernel adapter (vmk) IF you have any of the above traffic in your environment.  You do not need to map a vmk to a vmnic on a host for any other types of traffic/portgroups.  It is recommended you only map one vmk to one vmnic when required. 

 

Resolution

Add Hosts to a vSphere Distributed Switch

Create a VMkernel Adapter on a vSphere Distributed Switch

1.On the vSphere Client Home page, click Networking and navigate to a distributed port group.
2.From the Actions menu, select Add VMkernel Adapters.
3.On the Select hosts page, click Attached hosts, select from the hosts that are associated with the distributed switch and click OK.
Click Next.
4.On the Configure VMkernel adapter page, configure the settings for the VMkernel adapter.

 

5. On the IPv4 settings page, select an option for obtaining IP addresses.

6. On the IPv6 settings page, select an option for obtaining IPv6 addresses.

7. Review your settings selections on the Ready to complete page and click Finish.