Creating network pools in VMware vCloud Director (1026300)

Purpose

This article provides:

• Information about the network pools available in VMware vCloud Director
• Steps to create a network pool

Resolution

 

To create Organization Networks or vApp Networks, a pool of network resources must be available. These network pools must be created in advance of the creation of Org and vApp networks. If they do not exist, the only network option available to an organization is the direct connect to the provider network.

Network pools can be one of these types:

• VLAN-backed – a range of VLAN IDs and a vNetwork distributed switch are available in vSphere. The VLAN IDs must be valid IDs that are configured in the physical switch to which the ESX/ESXi servers are connected.
  
• vCloud isolated networks – An isolation-backed network pool does not require pre-existing port groups in vSphere but needs a vSphere vNetwork distributed switch. It uses portgroups which are dynamically created. A Cloud isolated network spans hosts, provides traffic isolation from other networks and is the best source for vApp networks.
  
• vSphere port groups – Unlike other types of network pools, a network pool that is backed by port groups does not require a vNetwork distributed switch. This is the only type of network pool that works with Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switches.
  
• vCloud Director 5.1 introduces VXLAN, which provides the capability to create isolated, multi-tenant domains across data center fabrics. For more information, see the:
• VXLAN Network Pools section of the vCloud  Director Administrator's Guide
• VXLAN Virtual Wires Management section of the vShield Administrator Guide

The network traffic on each network of a network pool is isolated at Layer 2 from all other network traffic. The VMware vCloud Director Network Isolation networks span hosts and are represented as portgroups on a vNetwork Distributed Switch.

 

Individual vCloud Director Network Isolated Networks are isolated from each other. They are enabled via an agent (vslad) running on each host that is participating in the network by opening a network tunnel. This is similar to the network isolation technology used in Lab Manager. However, isolation in vCloud Director is done with an ESX daemon alone and does not rely on Service virtual machines like Lab Manager.

To create a VLAN-backed network pool:

1. Create a Provider Network. For more information, see Creating External (Provider) Networks in VMware vCloud Director (1026299).
2. Click the Manage & Monitor tab, then click Network Pools (in the left pane).
3. Click Add Network Pool.
4. Select VLAN-backed and click Next.
5. Type a range of VLAN IDs and click Add.
   
   Note: You can create one network for each VLAN ID.
   
6. Select a vCenter Server and vNetwork distributed switch and click Next.
7. Type a name and optional description for the network and click Next.
8. Review the network pool settings and click Finish.

To create a vCloud isolated network:

1. Create a Provider Network. For more information, see Creating External (Provider) Networks in VMware vCloud Director (1026299).
2. Click the Manage & Monitor tab, then click Network Pools (in the left pane).
3. Click Add Network Pool.
4. Select VCD Network Isolation-backed and click Next.
5. Type the number of networks to create from the network pool.
6. (Optional) Type a VLAN ID.
7. Select a vCenter Server and a vNetwork distributed switch and click Next.
8. Type a name and optional description for the network and click Next.
9. Review the network pool settings and click Finish.
   
   Note: Cloud Director creates vCloud isolated networks in vSphere as they are needed.

To create vSphere Port Groups:

1. Create a Provider Network. For more information, see Creating External (Provider) Networks in VMware vCloud Director (1026299).
2. Click the Manage & Monitor tab, and click Network Pools (in the left pane).
3. Click Add Network Pool.
4. Select vSphere Port Group-backed and click Next.
5. Select a vCenter Server and click Next.
6. Select one or more port groups, click Add > Next.
   
   Note: You can create one network for each port group.
   
7. Type a name and optional description for the network and click Next.
8. Review the network pool settings and click Finish.

Source:-

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1026300