What is vmkernel and how is it related to VMware setup?

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.wssdk.pg.doc_50%2FPG_Ch9_Networking.11.4.html

this would help you

The VMKernel TCP/IP stack Portgroup handles traffic for the following ESXi services iSCSI, NFS, VMware vMotion and host management.

Basically is a special portgroup which handles traffic for the HOST. (not the Guests)

A quotation from my own EE Article

HOW TO: Add an iSCSI Software Adaptor and Create an iSCSI Multipath Network in VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0

I am trying to draw VM diagram with the following

2 ESXi Host
10 Vms
1 SAN Storage

The Host has 4 RJ45 which are 10GB each.

With the VMware installed in both host, we used NIC1, NIC2, S2-1 and S2-2 which is vmnic0, vmnic1, vmnic4 and vmnic5 respectively

vmnic1 and vmnic5 (active/standby) are attached to (Vmk0) vSwitch0 for management network.
vmnic0 is for iSCSi-1 (Vmk1) - vSwitch1
vmnic4 is for iSCSI-2 (Vmk2) - vSwitch2
Vmk3 is for vMotion
Vmk4 is for Fault Tolerance
Vmk5 is for Backup

How can i draw a diagram out of these items?

I know how they and what they are configured but I really do not understand the concept of theVM stuff.

you have 5 vmkernel configured but has only 4 physical adapters which is not possible.. either you merge vmotion with management however this can lead to all vmkernel without redundancy and is not a good design at all.  if I were the customer I will not take it for a penny

my bad it's 6 vmkernels so you need to reduce it to 4 including two storage vmk..  plan it accordingly.. I don't know if you are using FT concept in the environment else you can remove it as well..

You really should have at least TWO nics per service to reduce single point of failure.

from the above, you do NOT list what nics carry VM Traffic.....

You list nics which carry ALL ESXi traffic.

I would split your diagram as

1. Storage
2. Host specific functions - vMotion, Management network, Fault Tolerance
3. VMs

Hi!

I missed out some info

The other vmkernels are using the same switch

vmnic1 and vmnic5 (active/standby) are attached to (Vmk0) vSwitch0 for management network.
vmnic0 is for iSCSi-1 (Vmk1) - vSwitch1
vmnic4 is for iSCSI-2 (Vmk2) - vSwitch2
Vmk3 is for vMotion - vSwitch0
Vmk4 is for Fault Tolerance - vSwitch0
Vmk5 is for Backup - vSwitch0

I am not too sure about vMotion and FT.

If I am not wrong, vMotion is to move the VMs from one host to another if the host is down.

I am not too sure about Fault Tolerance.

Hi! Andrew,

This is what i can think of at the moment

If I am not wrong, vMotion is to move the VMs from one host to another if the host is down.

This is not correct. Think about it, how can you move a VM from a host is down ?

This is for live migration ? Do you have a license for vMotion ?

Do you have a License for FT - Fault Tolerence for a VM ?

Storage diagram looks okay, but it depends who the end audience is?

VMware vSphere 6 Standard

Expiration date:
Never

Features:
Unlimited virtual SMP
H.264 for Remote Console Connections
vCenter agent for VMware host
vSphere API
Content Library
Storage APIs
vSphere vMotion
X-Switch vMotion
vSphere HA
vSphere Data Protection
vShield Endpoint
vSphere Replication
vShield Zones
Hot-Pluggable virtual HW
vSphere Storage vMotion
Shared Smart Card Reader
vSphere FT (up to 2 virtual CPUs)
Virtual Volumes
APIs for Storage Awareness
Storage-Policy Based Management
vSphere Storage APIs for Array Integration
Remote virtual Serial Port Concentrator

Unless you are using vMotion and FT - not required.

It is required as my boss was the one who brought it up and had it configured with a static IP addresses for both ESXi host. The thng is the diagram. I have difficulty understanding the concept and bringing it all together to form the diagram.

What concepts are you not understanding ?

lets go through them one at a time.

Why vmkernel when there are vmnics?