Integration of NSX-T Data Center and

vSphere Distributed Switch

© 2019 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.

Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Use virtual distributed port groups to connect to NSX-T Data Center logical switches
• Identify NSX-T Data Center logical switches and their properties in vSphere Client
• Assign virtual network adapters to NSX port groups in vSphere Client

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

vSphere Client Networking Enhancements
In vSphere 7.0, you can view and use NSX-T Data Center logical switches in the vSphere Client
as transparent networks.
With this enhancement, NSX-T Data Center logical switches behave as virtual distributed port
groups.
With NSX-T Data Center logical switches, also known as NSX port groups, you can perform the
following tasks:
• Bind NSX port groups to VMkernel adapters
• Assign virtual machine network adapters to NSX port groups
• Migrate virtual machines to and from NSX port groups

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

Overview of NSX-T Data Center with vCenter Server
In vSphere versions earlier than 7.0, NSX-T Data Center is decoupled from vCenter Server to
avoid scalability limitations. For this reason, in the vSphere Client, NSX-T Data Center networks
are:
• Opaque, read-only networks
• Difficult to differentiate from other networks

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

Virtual Beans Scenario
Virtual Beans uses vSphere and NSX-T Data Center.
Because the two platforms are not fully integrated with one another, using two separate interfaces
to manage virtual networks is a complex task:
• The network administrator manages a distributed switch in NSX-T Data Center (N-VDS).
• The vSphere administrator can view limited details of the N-VDS in vSphere.
As the vSphere administrator in Virtual Beans, you upgrade the vSphere environment to version
7.0. You want to use transparent NSX port groups.
You can take advantage of the existing hardware decoupled networking and easily use it for
virtual machines and VMkernel adapters.

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Feature Architecture
A single NSX-T Data Center logical switch can span multiple distributed switches.

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Identifying NSX Port Groups
In the vSphere Client, you can easily distinguish NSX port groups from traditional distributed port
groups.

Summary of a distributed port group

Summary of an NSX port group

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NSX Port Group Properties
In vSphere 7.0, the following NSX port group
properties appear in the vSphere Client:
• Segment ID: Equivalent to a logical switch,
providing network connections for virtual
machines
• Transport Zone: Dictates which hosts can
participate in the use of a specific network

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Requirements for Integration
The option to create NSX port groups is included with vSphere Distributed Switch functionality.
You do not need new licenses or a separate installation.
vSphere and NSX must be configured with the following product minimum versions:
• vCenter Server 7.0
• ESXi 7.0
• vSphere Distributed Switch 7.0
• NSX-T Data Center 3.0
Additionally, vCenter Server should be registered with NSX Manager as a compute manager.

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

Configuring NSX Port Groups: vSphere Client
In vSphere 7.0, you use the vSphere Client and the NSX simplified UI to configure NSX port
groups.
To configure NSX port groups in the vSphere
Client:
• Create a virtual distributed switch version 7.0
or later.
• Set the MTU size to at least 1600 on the
distributed switch.
• Add a host to the virtual distributed switch.

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

Configuring NSX Port Groups: NSX Simplified UI
To configure NSX port groups in the NSX
simplified UI:
• Create a transport zone.
• Add the host as a transport node.
• Create a logical switch on the transport zone.
After these steps are performed, the logical
switch is available in vCenter as an NSX port
group.

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NSX Port Group Life Cycle
NSX port group is accessible only by hosts that have joined the transport zone on which the
logical switch resides.
vCenter Server pushes an NSX port group to a host when:
• The ESXi host joins the corresponding transport zone.
• A logical switch is created on a transport zone where the ESXi is added.
vCenter deletes an NSX port group from a host when:
• The host leaves the corresponding transport zone.
• A logical switch is deleted from a transport zone where the ESXi is added.

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Adding VMkernel Adapters to NSX Port Groups
In vSphere 7.0, you can add VMkernel adapters to NSX port groups.

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Assigning vNIC Adapters to NSX Port Groups
Virtual machine network adapters or vnics can
be assigned to NSX port groups.
When migrating a VM using vSphere vMotion,
you can migrate the VM to and from NSX port
groups.

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Exporting VDS Configurations
The NSX port group configuration is managed
by NSX-T Data Center and cannot be exported
or imported by vCenter Server.
In vSphere 7.0, a warning informs you that NSX
port groups are not included when you export a
VDS configuration.

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Limitations of NSX Port Groups in the vSphere Client
In the vSphere Client, NSX port groups are read-only.
In the vSphere Client, you cannot take the following actions for NSX port groups:
• Delete
• Modify settings
• Use in port mirroring sessions
• Include configuration in VDS exports

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Troubleshooting: Log Files
Messages about NSX port groups are written to different log files.
In vCenter Server, review the following logs:
• /var/log/vmware/vpxd/vpxd.log
• /var/log/vmware/vsphere-client/logs/vsphere_client_virgo.log
• /var/log/vmware/vsphere-client/logs/dataservice.log
In ESXi hosts, review the following logs:
• /var/log/hostd.log
• /var/run/log/nsx-opsagent.log

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Issues and Bug Reporting
To report a bug in Bugzilla, use the following information:
• Product = VPX
• Category = H5 Client
• Component = Networking
When filing a bug report, provide pertinent details about the environment, a clear description of
the problem and steps for reproducing the error.
If the NSX port group is not visible in vSphere Distributed Switch, an incorrect VDS might be
attached to the NSX-T Data Center transport zone.

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

References
For further details on the integration of NSX-T Data Center and vSphere Distributed Switch, see:

Title Location
NSX-T VDS User Interface https://confluence.eng.vmware.com/display/CPBU/N
SX-T+VDS+UI
NSX-T on VDS Functional Specification https://confluence.eng.vmware.com/display/NSBU/N
SX-T+on+VDS+Functional+Spec

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1

Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Use virtual distributed port groups to connect to NSX-T Data Center logical switches
• Identify NSX-T Data Center logical switches and their properties in vSphere Client
• Assign virtual network adapters to NSX port groups in vSphere Client

© 2019 VMware, Inc. | -1