6.0.1

Prerequisites
Multiple gigabit Network Interface Cards (NICs) are required. For each host supporting Fault Tolerance, a
minimum of two physical NICs is recommended. For example, you need one dedicated to Fault Tolerance
logging and one dedicated to vMotion. Use three or more NICs to ensure availability.
NOTE The vMotion and FT logging NICs must be on different subnets. If you are using legacy FT, IPv6 is
not supported on the FT logging NIC.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Web Client, browse to the host.
2 Click the Manage tab and click Networking.
3 Click the Add host networking icon.
4 Select VMkernel Network Adapter on the Select Connection Type page and click Next.
5 Select New standard switch and click Next.
6 Assign free physical network adapters to the switch and click Next.
7 Provide a Network label and enable the services you want and click Next.
8 Provide an IP address and subnet mask and click Finish after reviewing your settings.
After you create both a vMotion and Fault Tolerance logging virtual switch, you can create other virtual
switches, as needed. Add the host to the cluster and complete any steps needed to turn on Fault Tolerance.
What to do next
NOTE If you configure networking to support FT but subsequently suspend the Fault Tolerance logging
port, pairs of fault tolerant virtual machines that are powered on remain powered on. If a failover situation
occurs, when the Primary VM is replaced by its Secondary VM a new Secondary VM is not started, causing
the new Primary VM to run in a Not Protected state.
Create Cluster and Check Compliance
vSphere Fault Tolerance is used in the context of a vSphere HA cluster. After you configure networking on
each host, create the vSphere HA cluster and add the hosts to it. You can check to see whether the cluster is
configured correctly and complies with the requirements for the enablement of Fault Tolerance.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Web Client, browse to the cluster.
2 Click the Monitor tab and click Profile Compliance.
3 Click Check Compliance Now to run the compliance tests.
The results of the compliance test appear, and the compliance or noncompliance of each host is shown.
Using Fault Tolerance
After you have taken all of the required steps for enabling vSphere Fault Tolerance for your cluster, you can
use the feature by turning it on for individual virtual machines.
Before Fault Tolerance can be turned on, validation checks are performed on a virtual machine.
After these checks are passed and you turn on vSphere Fault Tolerance for a virtual machine, new options
are added to the Fault Tolerance section of its context menu. These include turning off or disabling Fault
Tolerance, migrating the Secondary VM, testing failover, and testing restart of the Secondary VM.
Chapter 3 Providing Fault Tolerance for Virtual Machines
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