Upgraded EXSi host to 8.03 moved to new vCenter - configure networking via a virtual Distributed Switch (vDS) for the cluster

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

After upgrading an ESXi host to 8.x and adding it to a new 8.x vCenter, you want to establish networking in that 8.0 ESXi host for the new 8.0 vCenter based on information from a previous deployment.

The previous deployment is still in operation while you are migrating hosts to the new deployment.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
VMware vCenter 8.x

Resolution

1. Create a new virtual distributed switch for management on the new vCenter as per technical documentation Create a vSphere Distributed Switch.
   If the previous deployment is an older version (e.g. 7.x) , you should create older version (e.g. 7.x) virtual distributed switches.
   
   
2. If any additional networks need to be created, then additional virtual distributed switch(es) can be created following step 1, if desired.  There is no requirement for the additional networks to be on separate virtual distributed switches, but sometimes customers prefer that based on their own typical practices
   
   
3. Export the dvPortgroup(s) (networks) from the previous deployment as per technical documentation Export vSphere Distributed Port Group Configurations.
   
   
4. Import the dvPortgroup(s) (networks) to the new virtual distributed switch(es) as per technical documentation Import a vSphere Distributed Port Group Configuration.
   
   
5. Add the ESXi host to the new virtual distributed switch(es) as per technical documentation Add Hosts to a vSphere Distributed Switch.
   
   
6. Once networking is established successfully for all ESXi hosts, you can upgrade the new virtual distributed switches to the most recent supported version as per technical documentation Upgrade a vSphere Distributed Switch to a Later Version.

Additional Information

Networking Concepts Overview

Introduction to vSphere Networking