We have a two Dell PowerEdge T440's, where one NIC is capable of 1 gigabit so that we can transfer VM's directly between the two quickly. Using ESXI 7.0.
However, it does not seem to be working how I need it to and I need assistance. Don't know the best way to describe this so I will just start with the Virtual Switch.
I have three virtual switches setup -terminal - Uplink 1 - vmnic0, 100 mps, everything is default settingsplant - Uplink 1 - vmnic 1, 100 mps, everything defaultredundancy - Uplink 1 - vmnic3 10000 mbps, everything defaultvmnic2 is unusued
The plant switch has nothing to do with any of this so I will ignore it while I talk about the relevant port groups -I have 3 port groups for terminal vSwitch - VM Network, pgTerminal and Management Network.
The Management Network is used as a VMkernel Nic with a static IPv4, services set to Management. pgTerminal is used as a network card on my VM's. VM Network is unused but was requested to be added.
Now this part works insofar as if I am on a computer on the same network, I can access the ESXI web ui via the VMKernel NIC I setup using my Management Network port group, and I can also do some from within my VM's on the server.
The redundancy vSwitch has two port groups - pgRedundancy and Backup. pgRedudancy is used as a network card in our VM's and Backup is used as a VMKernel NIC with a static IPv4 ip.
All my VM netowrk cards are setup the same -Network Card #1 uses pgTerminal (all default settings)Network Card #2 uses pgPlant (all default settings)Network Card #3 uses pgRedundancy (all default settings).
Physically, wires from NIC's 0 and 1 go into a switch into a larger network so I can access the Web UI via the Management Network VMKernel NIC I setup. NIC 2 has nothing in it. NIC 3 has a wire straight from Server 1 to Server 2.
Last two bits of context. The VM's using the pgRedundancy port group for their 3rd network card use a 10.10.10.x IP with a 255.255.255.0 subnet. My VM on Server 1 is able to ping my VM on Server 2 and vice versa over this 10.10.10.x network.
My other network computer I use to access the ESXI Web UI with the Management Network VMKernel NIC (which again the VM's are also able to access) is unable to access the ESXI Web UI via the Backup VMKernel NIC via 10.10.10.201 (or .202). If I plug my laptop directly into NIC 3 with an ethernet and setup my IP correctly I CAN use the ESXI Web UI via 10.10.10.201, but that has been the only way I've successfully done it. This other network computer IS able to ping the VM's on the 10.10.10.x network though.
I am at a loss especially because some things seem (like my VM's can see each other over the 10.10.10.x network across Servers) but I cannot see the ESXI web ui or ping that address. But directly connecting to the port does show it to me.
I must be missing something simple but I am not an ESXI expert in fact this is my first real project with it. Any ideas? I can provide more details if you tell me what you want to know.