VCP-NV: Configure and Manage vSphere Networking

This VCP-NV objective is around understanding the existing virtual switch technologies available with vSphere. These are the standard vSwitch and the Distributed vSwitch.  The specific objectives for this section of the VCP-NV are:

1. Configure and Manage vSphere Standard Switches (vSS)
2. Configure and Manage vSphere Distributed Switches (vDS)
3. Configure and Manage vSS and vDS Policies

Rather than go into detail on these topics in this post, I’ll link to some of the posts I created as part of my VCAP-DCA study guide, along with some other relevant VMware documentation.

In terms of my posts, the best place to start would be this one, all about vSwitch policies and teaming settings. My other posts on virtual networking include:

Migrate a vSS network to a Hybrid or Full vDS solution

Configure vSS and vDS settings using command line tools

Analyze command line output to identify vSS and vDS configuration details

Configure NetFlow

Determine appropriate discovery protocol (CDP, LLDP)

Determine use cases for and configure VLAN Trunking

Determine use cases for and configure PVLANs

Use command line tools to troubleshoot and identify VLAN configurations

Understand the NIC Teaming failover types and related physical network settings

Determine and apply Failover settings

Configure explicit failover to conform with VMware best practices

Configure port groups to properly isolate network traffic

Understand the use of command line tools to configure appropriate vDS settings on an ESXi host

Determine use cases for and apply Port Binding settings

Configure Live Port Moving

Given a set of network requirements, identify the appropriate distributed switch technology to use

Configure and administer vSphere Network I/O Control

Use command line tools to troubleshoot and identify configuration items from an existing vDS

 

Aside from the links here, it is recommended to read through VMware’s vSphere Networking document, and be comfortable with the topics it contains. Check out the VMware HOLs too as there is an excellent one covering dvSwitch configuration.