Vmware Network configuration

How many Network cards do you have on the ESX server?

I need to know most of the scenarios, when I have 1 Nic, 2Nics, 3Nics, etc.....

1-after installing ESX server on the local machine, I will have to assign IP address to Virtual console other than the one assigned to the ESX server during the installation wizard, I will also have to assign an IP to VMKernel. Correct?, if so what's the purpose of assigning IP to service console and VMkernel?

Answer: Assigning IP to the service console (SC), are used to administer the ESX server via network. Either using SSH or VMware Infrastructure Client (VIC).
VMware, Inc. refers to the hypervisor used by VMware ESX Server as "vmkernel". Will you be using VMotion, iSCSI, &/or NFS?

2-is port group the same as VLAN?

Answer: I would say the equivalent of vlan is vSwitch. Port group is the container for your vlan network. Inside vSwitch is an option to put your SC.

3- what's the Virtual machine Datastore?

Answer: Datastore is where your virtual machines are stored. That's the database you protect and backup, same as your config.

4- I need to know most of the scenarios, when I have 1 Nic, 2Nics, 3Nics, etc.....

Answer: The more NIC's you have the better. This way you can segment your SC with the rest of your port group.

Example:
e0: SC   - pNic Broadcom
e1: LAN - pNic Broadcom

e2: LAN - pNic Intel1
e3: DMZ - pNic Intel1

e4: DMZ - pNic Intel2
e5: SC   - pNic Intel2

The above example is just a way to say, that if the Broadcom NIC dies, then your SC, LAN, & DMZ is still alive. Same scenario, with Intel1 or Intel2 dying. But not the same time.

in our environment I see:

Virtual machine Port Group                   Vmnic0 1000 Full
VMNetwork
2 Virtual machines VLAN ID *
ESXXP1
ESXW2k3

VMkernel Port
VMkernel
29.0.0.201
Service console Port
Service Console
vswif0: 29.0.0.360

-why VMNetwork shows under port group , but VMkernel shows under Vmkernel port , and service console shows under service console port?
-vmnic0 (Network adapter ) shows under Observ IP ranges (29.0.0.1-29.0.0.127)
what does that mean?

Thanks

Q: why VMNetwork shows under port group

Answer: VMNetwork is the default name for the 1st port group created. You can change VMNetwork to any name. I usually change it to VM_Net_LAN, for LAN.

Q: VMkernel shows under Vmkernel port , and service console shows under service console port?

Answer: The service console was created under VMKernel, as suppose to creating it under VMNetwork.

Q: -vmnic0 (Network adapter ) shows under Observ IP ranges (29.0.0.1-29.0.0.127)
what does that mean?

Answer: You don't have to take this literaly (did I spell that right?). This is usually the subnet, depends on the mask you have assigned.

You sound lost. Is this server on a production environment?

I am lost... yes. Because of the terminology .
I still don't know why VM uses the term "port group and just port though VMNetwork,VMkernel, Service console are all in the same VSwitch.

I noticed when I install the first ESX server, the service console will take the IP address of the ESX server I typed on the installation wizard.