VMware ESXi vMotion using directly connected card without switch
Hi guys,
I was trying to test a server that has 2x 1GB and 2x 10GB ports so I can move VMs from one host to the other using vMotion (no shared storage). The problem is, I don't have a 10GB switch so I've beem managing the servers through the 1GB ports connect to a switch, and the 10GB ports are connected directly from one server into the other, no switches in between.
On the 10GBIT cards, I set up IP address and GW (which can't really go anywhere as they are connected directly to each other) and I manage the servers using vCenter, which reach these servers through the switch using the 1GB ports. I enabled Vmotion on the 10GBIT ports, and tried to vMotion. It got stuck.
If I do the same on the 1GBIT ports, enabling vMotion on them, it works fine. I don't know if it is because the vMotion can't reach a gateway, but as everything is in the same subnet it should need a GW.
I heard that vMotion is actually a 2 item process:
Is this right?
Even though, I should be able to use the directly connected networks to migrate VMDK of vMotion the VMs to a different host. Why am I encountering this problem just when connecting the NICs directly to each other?
I was planning to get some infiniband cards as they are a cheap way to get 10-40GB without a switch, but if this is a limitation and I can't really internet the hosts properly and vMotion, it may not make much sense.
Thanks!
I was trying to test a server that has 2x 1GB and 2x 10GB ports so I can move VMs from one host to the other using vMotion (no shared storage). The problem is, I don't have a 10GB switch so I've beem managing the servers through the 1GB ports connect to a switch, and the 10GB ports are connected directly from one server into the other, no switches in between.
On the 10GBIT cards, I set up IP address and GW (which can't really go anywhere as they are connected directly to each other) and I manage the servers using vCenter, which reach these servers through the switch using the 1GB ports. I enabled Vmotion on the 10GBIT ports, and tried to vMotion. It got stuck.
If I do the same on the 1GBIT ports, enabling vMotion on them, it works fine. I don't know if it is because the vMotion can't reach a gateway, but as everything is in the same subnet it should need a GW.
I heard that vMotion is actually a 2 item process:
1.
the cold migration will copy the VMDK files and will use the normal virtual network, not the vMotion network2.
vMotion is actually just the memory state that will be copied over the network to the machine located on the new host, no VMDK files are involved in this stepIs this right?
Even though, I should be able to use the directly connected networks to migrate VMDK of vMotion the VMs to a different host. Why am I encountering this problem just when connecting the NICs directly to each other?
I was planning to get some infiniband cards as they are a cheap way to get 10-40GB without a switch, but if this is a limitation and I can't really internet the hosts properly and vMotion, it may not make much sense.
Thanks!
ASKER
That is why I could not understand why it didn't work.
10GB NICs have vmotion enabled, IP address and physical link.
I'm going to test again.
Also, I was wondering if I can make the normal traffic go between the hosts through the 10GB NICs, but still be managed on the 1GB NICs?
I would like to test moving VMs from one host to the other with the 10GB cards and no switch for example. I believe it can be done as people were using infiniband cards without switches.
10GB NICs have vmotion enabled, IP address and physical link.
I'm going to test again.
Also, I was wondering if I can make the normal traffic go between the hosts through the 10GB NICs, but still be managed on the 1GB NICs?
I would like to test moving VMs from one host to the other with the 10GB cards and no switch for example. I believe it can be done as people were using infiniband cards without switches.
You can select which interface you want to use for Management, and you can select which network interface you want to use for vMotion.
Remember vMotion network interfaces can have different interfaces, IP Addresses, and is usually recommended to be different networks.
Remember vMotion network interfaces can have different interfaces, IP Addresses, and is usually recommended to be different networks.
ASKER
Can I also have multiple nics for management in a way I can force the traffic for example of moving VM to different host to got through the 10GB cards? Remember that I can't connect to these cards to manage remotely, they are connected directly to each host without a switch.
What I understand is that the management network is the network that also carries the traffic when VMs are being moved across hosts, so I'm wondering how I can achieve this.
What I understand is that the management network is the network that also carries the traffic when VMs are being moved across hosts, so I'm wondering how I can achieve this.
VMotion of VMs, traffic goes through a vMotion Port.
Management Port is connected to vCenter Server.
Setup a new vMotion network on your 10GBe cards, with different IP Address, and ONLY flag these VMKernel Portgroups as vMotion.
Management Port is connected to vCenter Server.
Setup a new vMotion network on your 10GBe cards, with different IP Address, and ONLY flag these VMKernel Portgroups as vMotion.
ASKER
This doesn't accomplish what I'm trying to do. I want to move VMDK disks over the 10GB cards too, not just the memory state through vMotion.
Can the move of VMDKs happen on a network that is not connected to vcenter?
Can the move of VMDKs happen on a network that is not connected to vcenter?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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and you can connect network ports between servers, providing you get an uplink, there is no need to use a switch.
Test your vMotion network (VMKernel Portgroups), using Ping, good communication is required between vMotion Portgroups for a vMotion to complete.
Have you tested the vMotion network?