Objective 2.1 – Configure policies/features and verify vSphere networking
This chapter is about the vDS switches and their functionalities. Some concepts are also valid for vSS, but the exam preparation seems to prefer the vDS-related questions. Note that the standard VMware vSphere Install & Configuration course does not cover vDS!
The vDS is based on these elements:
- The vDS itself: It contains some configuration parameters and some monitoring features and also contains the following elements:
- Uplink Port Group: This is the physical connection to the physical switches. Each uplink will correspond to a physical NIC on each host member of the vDS.
- Distributed Port Group: This is the virtual connection and provides the network connectivity for all VMs and for the ESXi VMkernel adapters.
Note
For more information, see the KB 1010555 (https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1010555): "Overview of vNetwork Distributed Switch" concepts.
But why would you want to use a vDS (if you have the license) and why...