The "Direct" network option is missing during Organization VDC network creation in the VMware Cloud Director Tenant Portal
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The "Direct" network option is missing during Organization VDC network creation in the VMware Cloud Director Tenant Portal

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Article ID: 429841

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Updated On:

Products

VMware Cloud Director

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to create a new Organization VDC network within the VMware Cloud Director (VCD) Tenant Portal, the Direct network type is unavailable. Only the Isolated (or Routed, if an Edge is present) options are displayed in the wizard.

Symptoms:

  • Organization Administrator cannot see the "Direct" radio button or checkbox during network creation.

  • The backing vCenter Server port group is confirmed to be available and healthy.

  • The issue persists even if the user has the "Organization Administrator" role.

Environment

10.x

Cause

By design, a Direct Organization VDC network maps directly to a vSphere Port Group via an External Network. The creation and mapping of provider-side resources (External Networks) to a specific Organization VDC is a privileged administrative task. The Organization Administrator role in the Tenant Portal does not have the permissions to bind infrastructure-level External Networks to the VDC; this action must be initiated from the Provider Admin Portal.

Resolution

Step 1: Create the External Network (Provider Admin Portal)

This must be done by a System Administrator.

  1. Log in to the VMware Cloud Director Provider Admin Portal.

  2. Navigate to Resources > Cloud Resources > External Networks.

  3. Click ADD.

  4. Select vSphere Resources as the backing type.

  5. Select the vCenter Server and the specific Distributed Port Group (port group from vSphere).

  6. Configure the Subnet settings:

    • Enter the Gateway IP, Subnet Mask, and DNS.

    • Define a Static IP Pool (this pool provides IPs to the VMs connected to the Direct network).

  7. Provide a name for the External Network and click Finish.

Step 2: Create the Direct Org VDC Network (System Admin in Tenant Portal)

Even though the network is for a tenant, a System Administrator must initiate the creation to link it to the External Network.

  1. In the Provider Admin Portal, navigate to Resources > Cloud Resources > Organization VDCs.

  2. Click on the name of the target Organization VDC.

  3. Click the Launch Tenant Portal button (or "Open in Tenant Portal") from the VDC view. This opens the tenant view using your System Admin credentials.

  4. Navigate to Networking > Networks.

  5. Click NEW.

  6. For Network Type, the Direct option will now be available. Select it and click Next.

  7. Choose the External Network created in Step 1.

  8. Complete the wizard to finalize the connection.

Additional Information

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