Hi Mate,


I have two Fast ethernet ports on a Cisco 3750 configured in a Ether-Channel
and connected to VMnic0 & VMnic1 in my ESXI 4.1 Server.

The ESXI is currently configured with Nic Teaming & Load Balancing is configured with IP Hash.

The Nics are as follows:

* Onboard VMnic1 is a Broadcom BCM5752
* 1 x PCI VMnic0 is a Intel 82541PI

I have at least 5 or 6 VM running at a time and I would like to know if ESXI has the ability to measure the Load balance / Packet IN & Packets out.

I would just like to have the ability to see if both Nics are equally distributing the Traffic Load.

Is this possible to achieve.


Thanks

On the performance tab you can look at the network traffic for each vmnic. If you click Chart Options you have a few more metrics for each nic. Is that sufficient or are you looking for something more.

Well I've looked at the performance chart but I'm not sure if this is giving me what I want.

I just want to proof packets are equally loadbalance over both VMnics.
ie. 50/50 spread or 60/40 what ever it may be.

Cheers

Ok!

I sent a ping request of 10,000 bits, I have attached a snapshot of the Performance Graph measuring Transmit & receive Packets.
I assume if from the results of the graph the Load Balance results are as follows:

VMnic0 received 2650 packets.
VMnic1 Trasmitted 3390 packets

VMnic1 received 133 packets
VMnic0 received 13 packets

If you're making a single connection from one source PC to one of the VMs then you won't see load balancing with IP hash as the value would be the same for all connections. It won't be until you add multiple sources connecting that the IP hash will change and you'll then see traffic going between both NICs. But even in that case all traffic between a VM and source PC will always go via the same NIC.

Hi Dave,

I have a VM image running a Linux Cisco Application.
Currently the Nic Settings is configured as Adapter Type = Flex.
I would like to change the Adapter Type to E1000. Is there a method I can use to Re-configure the Nic Adapter.

You can edit the VM add a e1000 nic then delete the other - or the harder way -
1 unregister the VM
2 edit the VMX file to change the NIC type
3 register the VM again.

Dave

Thanks again for your Help.

I managed to discover the solution, by "Trial & Error".
I deleted the Nic Associated with my VM & selected to add a New Adapter with the Type E1000.

For The Record you may wish to post an article on the following.

Nic Adapter Type: Flex or E1000

I have installed in my Lab a Cisco Unified Product (Linux Based).

However my Cisco switch "3750" was receiving Half duplex errors constantly, even though I had selected Full duplex during the installation.
I have managed to to ascertain the issue was the ESXI VM Nic Adapter Type which is set to Flex by default.

During the custom Build of the VM, there is an option to select Nic Type.
If you select the adapter type as a E1000, you will not receive the Half duplex errors.


Cheers


Charles