Manage virtual switches
A virtual switch provides software-based switching between VMs, hosts, and the external network.
Virtual switch logical topology
Virtual switch interfaces
A virtual switch provides the following interfaces:
VM interface—An interface that connects to the virtual NIC of a VM for the VM to communicate with other VMs or the external network.
Local interface— An interface that connects to the protocol stack on the host.
Uplink interface— An interface that connects to the physical NIC of the host.
Restrictions and guidelines
Virtual switches being used by VMs cannot be deleted.
After you add or delete a virtual switch with a network type of service network, the virtual switch will also be added to or removed from the network topology.
Editing virtual switch settings might cause network failures. Please be cautious.
Suspended virtual switches cannot provide services. To avoid service interruption, make sure a virtual switch is not being used before suspending the virtual switch.
Add a virtual switch
On the top navigation bar, click Networks, and then select vSwitches from the navigation pane.
Set the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click Finish.
Edit a virtual switch
On the top navigation bar, click Networks, and then select vSwitches from the navigation pane.
Click the Edit icon
for a virtual switch.
Edit the parameters as described in "Parameters."
Click Finish.
Delete virtual switches
On the top navigation bar, click Networks, and then select vSwitches from the navigation pane.
Click the Delete icon
for a virtual switch.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
View the topology for a virtual switch
On the top navigation bar, click Networks, and then select vSwitches from the navigation pane.
Click the View Topology icon
for a virtual switch to view its topology.
Detach a host from a virtual switch
On the top navigation bar, click Networks, and then select vSwitches from the navigation pane.
Click the Delete vSwitch from Host icon
for a host in the Attached Hosts area.
In the dialog box that opens, click OK.
Parameters
Network Type: Select a network type for the virtual switch.
Management—Transmits the control layer data between UIS Manager and the hosts.
Service—Transmits VM service data.
Storage—Transmits data between the hosts and storage servers. This type of virtual switches cannot be used by VMs.
Backup—Transmits the backup data of VMs. A host can have only one virtual switch of this type, and the virtual switch cannot be used by VMs. If you do not configure an independent backup network switch, the system transmits backup data through management network switch vswitch0.
Migration—Transmits the data for migrating VMs. A host can have only one virtual switch of this type, and the virtual switch cannot be used by VMs. If you do not configure an independent migration network switch, the system transmits migration data through management network switch vswitch0.
Others—Transmits other kinds of data.
Forwarding Mode: Select a forwarding mode for the virtual switch. Only VEB is available.
VEB—In Virtual Ethernet Bridge (VEB) mode, the traffic between VMs is forwarded through the software.
VLAN ID: Enter the VLAN ID of the interface connected to the protocol stack of the host.
MTU: Set the maximum packet length that the virtual switch allows, in bytes.
Multicast: Set the state of multicast forwarding.
DPDK: Configure whether to enable DPDK or not. Enabling DPDK can improve the network performance of the VM.
Physical Interfaces: Select the physical interfaces used by the virtual switch. A physical interface can be used by only one virtual switch. This parameter is unavailable if all physical interfaces on the hosts have been used. If no physical interface is configured for a virtual switch, VMs connected to the virtual switch can only communicate with each other, not with the external network. If you select multiple physical interfaces, you must configure the link aggregation mode and load balancing mode.
IP: Enter an IP address for the virtual switch.
Subnet Mask: Enter the subnet mask of the IP address.
Gateway: Enter a gateway address for the virtual switch.
LAGG Mode: Select a link aggregation mode for the physical NICs. Options include Static and Dynamic. As a best practice, use dynamic link aggregation mode. If you select the dynamic link aggregation mode, you must enable LACP on the physical switch. This parameter is available only when you select multiple physical interfaces.
LB Mode: Select the load balancing mode for physical NICs on the virtual switch. This parameter is available only when you select multiple physical interfaces.
Advanced—Performs load balancing based on Ethernet type, IP protocol, source IP address, destination IP address, source port, and destination port of the packets. As a best practice, use advanced load balancing mode in an environment that requires precise load balancing.
Basic—Performs load balancing based on the source MAC address and VLAN tag of the packets.
Primary/Backup—Performs load balancing based on the primary and backup physical NICs. When the primary NIC fails, the system automatically switches the traffic to the backup NIC. This option is available only when the link aggregation mode is Static.
Fallback: Select whether to switch services from the backup NIC back to the primary NIC after the primary NIC recovers. This parameter is required when the load balancing mode is Primary/Backup.
Primary NIC Selection: Select the method used to select the primary NIC. This parameter is required when the load balancing mode is Primary/Backup.
Rate-Based: The system automatically selects the primary NIC based on the rates of the NICs. The NIC with the highest rate becomes the primary NIC. When multiple NICs have the same rate, the system randomly selects a NIC as the primary NIC.
Manual: You specify the primary NIC by arranging the LB priorities of the NICs. The NIC with the highest priority is the primary NIC. You must configure the LB priorities for the NICs in this mode.
LB Priority: Arrange the NICs to define their LB priorities. The NIC on the top has the highest priority and is the primary NIC.
Host Name: Enter the name of the host to which the virtual switch is attached.