Comments on: Design Challenges Of Virtualized vCenter With A vNetwork Distributed Switch

By: VMware vFabric: A Hypervisor For Networkers? – Gestalt IT

VMware vFabric: A Hypervisor For Networkers? – Gestalt IT — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:02:00 +0000

[...] and advanced management features. See this comparison of vSwitch, vSS, vDS, and 1000v as well as Rich Brambley’s vSS/vDS [...]

By: VMware vFabric: A Hypervisor For Networkers? – Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat

VMware vFabric: A Hypervisor For Networkers? – Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:13:50 +0000

[...] and advanced management features. See this comparison of vSwitch, vSS, vDS, and 1000v as well as Rich Brambley’s vSS/vDS [...]

By: Petya Noname

Petya Noname — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:40:33 +0000

Hi Rich,

Yeah you are right Cisco Nexus 1000v can't help if the VSM

By: Tech Talk » Blog Archive » vNetwork Distributed Switch challenges

Tech Talk » Blog Archive » vNetwork Distributed Switch challenges — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:03:09 +0000

[...] Rich Bramley of VM/ETC posted on the challenges of distributed switches with virtualized vCenter instances — largely the problem of a cyclical relationship that could leave you between “the vDS rock and a hard place,” as he puts it. He and I drew the same conclusions and ultimately, I have decided to keep a mix of distributed and standard vSwitches within my environment. [...]

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:44:10 +0000

Rich,

Thanks! This will definitely help with the testing and design of our install.

Cheers,
Kevin

By: rbrambley

rbrambley — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:56:16 +0000

Kevin,

Unless I am mistaken on how the Nexus 1000v works, The issue will be with the VMs that will be stranded on the unavailable Cisco vDS. The VSM (as a part of the 1000v switch itself) can't do anything to help rescue the VMs if the Nexus 1000v is down. The VMs will still need a portgroup on the vSS until the vDS is back up.

A VMware Heartbeat config, in any flavor, will provide redundancy to keep vCenter up and running and therefore keep the vDS available. I just haven't seen many people buy vCenter Heartbeat yet because of the cost.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:44:21 +0000

Hi Rich,

Just thinking of further ways to mitigate the above issues:
1. Does using a Cisco Nexus 1000v help if the VSM is not on vDS?
2. How about using VMHeartBeat between a virtualised vCenter and a physical vCenter?

Thanks,
Kevin

By: rbrambley

rbrambley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:48:03 +0000

VTeam,

It was a weekend of research and post reading for sure!

Thanks for documenting your findings to start with. They definitely
helped me understand and form an opinion about a vDS design
alternative.