Section 5.1. Introduction

5.1. Introduction

This chapter expands on the basics of virtual networking that were introduced in Chapters 1 and 2. We'll discuss virtual switches, physical and virtual NICs, bonded physical NICs, MAC addressing, Port Groups and VLANs, networking tools, and firewall possibilities. We'll go beyond the basics to discuss advanced network configurations and possible solutions. ESX provides remarkable flexibility when it comes to networking. This chapter is essential for the beginner because it offers the basic knowledge needed to set up ESX Server and your virtual machines. We'll build upon the basics to more advanced topics that both the beginner and possibly the advanced ESX administrator will find useful. Before moving on to the next chapter, though, we recommend you fully understand all of the information in this chapter because it will be referenced in later chapters, thus testing your understanding of the pertinent information detailed here.

After you've installed ESX Server on your Host, one of the first things you'll need to do when you log into the MUI is set up a virtual switch. You can think of a virtual switch as a software hub controlled by ESX that routes the traffic of your virtual machines both internally, between virtual machines on the same physical host, as well as externally, to your production network or the Internet.

Many possible networking configurations can enhance network communication, provide redundancy, and increase security for your production of virtual machines.