Networking Using vSphere Standard Switches

vSphere standard switches allow you to connect virtual machines to the outside world.
Networking with vSphere Standard Switches
Shows Host 1 and Host 2 that each have a virtual and a physical layer. There
					are virtual machines and a vSphere standard switch on each host.
Figure 1 shows the relationship between the physical and virtual network elements. The numbers match those in the figure.
  • Associated with each
    ESXi
    host are one or more uplink adapters (1). Uplink adapters represent the physical switches the
    ESXi
    host uses to connect to the network. You can manage uplink adapters by using the
    esxcli network nic
    command. See Managing Uplink Adapters.
  • Each uplink adapter is connected to a standard switch (2). You can manage a standard switch and associate it with uplink adapters by using the
    esxcli network vswitch
    command. See Setting Up Virtual Switches and Associating a Switch with a Network Interface.
  • Associated with the standard switch are port groups (3). Port group is a unique concept in the virtual environment. You can configure port groups to enforce policies that provide enhanced networking security, network segmentation, better performance, high availability, and traffic management. You can use the
    esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup
    command to associate a standard switch with a port group, and the
    esxcli network ip interface
    command to associate a port group with a VMkernel network interface.
  • The VMkernel TCP/IP networking stack supports iSCSI, NFS, and vMotion and has an associated VMkernel network interface. You configure VMkernel network interfaces by using the
    esxcli network ip interface
    command. See Adding and Modifying VMkernel Network Interfaces. Separate VMkernel network interfaces are often used for separate tasks, for example, you might devote one VMkernel network interface card to vMotion only. Virtual machines run their own systems' TCP/IP stacks and connect to the VMkernel at the Ethernet level through virtual switches.