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Knowledge Base

VLAN configuration on virtual switches, physical switches, and virtual machines (1003806)

Last Updated: 3/21/2024Categories: TroubleshootingTotal Views: 184171Language:
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Learn how VMware Skyline Advisor and Skyline Health Diagnostics work together to provide proactive intelligence and self-service log analysis.

Use Skyline Advisor to avoid issues before they occur across VCF, vSphere, vSAN, NSX, vROps & Horizon. Skyline Findings are based on top KBs, VMSAs/CVEs and design best practices.

Use Skyline Health Diagnostics to root cause vSphere & vSAN logs when an issue occurs. Skyline Health Diagnostic Findings are based on top KBs and VMSA/CVEs. You can use the Skyline Health Diagnostics tool in online or offline mode.

If you require additional help from technical support, please use Skyline Advisor to initiate a Log Assist to reduce time to upload logs. TSEs can also initiate logs to reduce effort.

Purpose

This article describes the various VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX.

Virtual LAN (VLAN) implementation is recommended in ESXi/ESX networking environments because:

It integrates ESXi/ESX into a pre-existing network

It secures network traffic

It reduces network traffic congestion

iSCSI traffic requires an isolated network

Resolution

Video tutorial for various VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX:

VLAN tagging methods used with ESXi/ESX:

There are three methods of VLAN tagging that can be configured on ESXi/ESX:

External Switch Tagging (EST)

Virtual Switch Tagging (VST)

Virtual Guest Tagging (VGT)

External Switch Tagging (EST)

All VLAN tagging of packets is performed on the physical switch.

ESXi/ESX host network adapters are connected to access ports on the physical switch.

The portgroups connected to the virtual switch must have their VLAN ID set to 0.

For more information, see Sample Configuration - ESXi/ESX connecting to physical switch via VLAN access mode and External Switch VLAN Tagging (EST Mode) (1004127).

See this example snippet of a code from a Cisco switch port configuration:

switchport mode access
switchport access vlan x

Virtual Switch Tagging (VST)

All VLAN tagging of packets is performed by the virtual switch before leaving the ESXi/ESX host.

The ESXi/ESX host network adapters must be connected to trunk ports on the physical switch.

The portgroups connected to the virtual switch must have an appropriate VLAN ID specified.

For more information, see:

Configuring a VLAN on a portgroup (1003825)

Configuring Virtual Switch VLAN Tagging (VST) mode on a vNetwork Distributed Switch (1010778)

For a sample of VST, see Sample configuration of virtual switch VLAN tagging (VST Mode) (1004074).

See this example snippet of code from a Cisco switch port configuration:

switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
switchport trunk allowed vlan x,y,z
spanning-tree portfast trunk

Note: The Native VLAN is not tagged and thus requires no VLAN ID to be set on the ESXi/ESX portgroup.

Virtual Guest Tagging (VGT)

All VLAN tagging is performed by the virtual machine.

You must install an 802.1Q VLAN trunking driver inside the virtual machine.

VLAN tags are preserved between the virtual machine networking stack and external switch when frames are passed to/from virtual switches.

Physical switch ports are set to trunk port.

For more information, see Sample configuration of virtual machine (VM) VLAN Tagging (VGT Mode) in ESX (1004252).

See this example snippet of code from a Cisco switch port configuration:

switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
switchport trunk allowed vlan x,y,z
spanning-tree portfast trunk

For additional information on these configurations, see VMware ESX Server 3: 802.1Q VLAN Solutions.

Related Information

VMware Skyline Health Diagnostics for vSphere - FAQ

Sample configuration of virtual switch VLAN tagging (VST Mode)

Sample Configuration - ESX/ESXi connecting to physical switch via VLAN access mode and External Switch VLAN Tagging (EST Mode)

Sample configuration of virtual machine VLAN Tagging (VGT Mode) in ESX

Configuring Virtual Switch VLAN Tagging (VST) mode on a vNetwork Distributed Switch

Configuring a VLAN on a portgroup

Troubleshooting: ESXi hosts have intermittent or no network connectivity

Troubleshooting virtual machine network connection issues

For translated versions of this article, see:

Configuração de VLAN em switch virtual, switch físico e máquinas virtuais

Configuração de VLAN em switch virtual, switch físico e máquinas virtuais

虚拟交换机、物理交换机及虚拟机上的 VLAN 配置

仮想スイッチ、物理スイッチおよび仮想マシン上の VLAN 構成

Detectable by VMware SkylineTM

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