6.5

Table Of Contents
Add and Configure an IPv4 VMkernel Network Interface with vicfg-vmknic
You can add and congure an IPv4 VMkernel NIC by using vicfg-vmknic.
Specify one of the options listed in “Connection Options for vCLI Host Management Commands,” on
page 19 in place of <conn_options>.
Procedure
1 Add a new VMkernel network interface.
You must specify the IP address by using --ip, the netmask, and the name. For the following examples,
assume that VMSF-VMK-363 is a port group to which you want to add a VMkernel network interface.
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --add --ip <ip_address> -n 255.255.255.0 VMSF-VMK-363
You can specify the MTU seing when adding a VMkernel network interface. You cannot change that
seing at a later time.
When the command nishes successfully, the newly added VMkernel network interface is enabled.
2 Change the IP address as needed.
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --ip <address> VMSF-VMK-363
For IPv4, the IP address can have one of the following formats.
n
<X.X.X.X> – Static IPv4 address.
n
DHCP – Use IPv4 DHCP.
The VMkernel supports DHCP only for ESXi 4.0 and later.
3 (Optional) Enable vMotion.
By default, vMotion is disabled.
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --enable-vmotion VMSF-VMK-363
You can later use --disable-vmotion to disable vMotion for this VMkernel network interface.
4 List information about all VMkernel network interfaces on the system.
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --list
The command displays the network information, port group, MTU, and current state for each virtual
network adapter in the system.
Add and Configure an IPv6 VMkernel Network Interface with vicfg-vmknic
You can add and congure an IPv6 VMkernel NIC by using vicfg-vmknic.
Specify one of the options listed in “Connection Options for vCLI Host Management Commands,” on
page 19 in place of <conn_options>.
Procedure
1 Add a new VMkernel network interface.
You must specify the IP address by using --ip, the netmask, and the name. For the following examples,
assume that VMSF-VMK-363 is a port group to which you want to add a VMkernel network interface.
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --add --ip <ip_address> -n 255.255.255.0 VMSF-VMK-363
You can specify the MTU seing when adding a VMkernel network interface. You cannot change that
seing at a later time.
When the command nishes successfully, the newly added VMkernel network interface is enabled.
Chapter 9 Managing vSphere Networking
VMware, Inc. 147