When an NSX Edge node is placed into maintenance mode, Virtual Machines (VMs) may experience a complete loss of network connectivity. This issue typically occurs on segments utilizing an Edge Bridge profile where high availability has not been properly configured.
Symptoms include:
Immediate packet loss for VMs on bridged segments during Edge maintenance.
Lack of failover when the primary bridging node is taken offline.
VMware NSX
The network interruption is caused by a lack of redundancy in the Edge Bridge profile configuration. If the profile is configured with only a Primary Node and the Backup Node field is left empty, the bridge becomes a single point of failure. When the primary node enters maintenance mode or fails, there is no designated secondary node to assume the bridging responsibilities.
To resolve this issue and ensure continuous connectivity, you must update the Edge Bridge profile to include a secondary node for high availability:
Log in to the NSX Manager UI.
Navigate to the Edge Bridge Profile configuration.
Locate and edit the profile used by the affected segments.
Assign a second Edge node as the Backup Node.
Save the configuration.
Verify the bridge status shows as healthy and redundant.
For detailed steps on profile creation and management, please refer to the VMware NSX Administration Guide: Create an NSX Edge Bridge Profile.