Working with vSphere Distributed Switches
So far, our discussion has focused solely on vSphere Standard Switches (just vSwitches). Starting with vSphere 4.0 and continuing with the current release, there is another option: vSphere Distributed Switches.
Whereas vSphere Standard Switches are managed per host, a vSphere Distributed Switch functions as a single virtual switch across all the associated ESXi hosts within a datacenter object. There are a number of similarities between a vSphere Distributed Switch and a Standard Switch:
- A vSphere Distributed Switch provides connectivity for virtual machines and VMkernel interfaces.
- A vSphere Distributed Switch leverages physical network adapters as uplinks to provide connectivity to the external physical network.
- A vSphere Distributed Switch can leverage VLANs for logical network segmentation.
- Most of the same load balancing, failback, security, and traffic shaping policies are available, with a few additions in the vSphere Distributed Switch...
