Installation guide

CHAPTER 11 Networking
369
Sharing Network Adapters and Virtual
Networks
In many ESX Server configurations, there is a clear distinction between networking
resources used by the virtual machines and those used by the service console. This
may be important for security reasons, for example — isolating the management
network from the network used by applications in the virtual machines.
However, there may be times when you want to share resources, including physical
network adapters and virtual networks.
This technical note provides instructions on sharing in both directions — making the
virtual machines’ resources available to the service console and allowing virtual
machines to share the network adapter used by the service console.
This sharing is made possible by the vmxnet_console driver, which is installed
with the service console.
Caution: We recommend that only advanced users make these configuration
changes. The steps below are easier for someone who is familiar with administering a
Linux system.
Note: If you accidentally bring down the local loopback interface while you are
reconfiguring network devices, the VMware Management Interface does not function
properly. To bring it back up, use the command ifconfig lo up.
Allowing the Service Console to Use the Virtual Machines’
Devices
All network adapters used by virtual machines (that is, assigned to the VMkernel) and
virtual networks can be made accessible to the service console. Virtual networks —
identified as vmnet_<n> on the Edit Configuration page of the VMware
Management Interface — provide high-speed connections among virtual machines
on the same physical server.
To give the service console access to VMkernel network adapters and virtual
networks, you must install the vmxnet_console module. When you install it, you
provide a list of VMkernel network adapters and virtual networks that the
vmxnet_console module should attach to. For example, if the VMkernel had an
adapter named vmnic1 and a virtual network named vmnet_0 and you wanted to
provide access to them from the service console, you would use the following
command to install the vmxnet_console module.