VMware vSphere

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  • 1.  Beacon Probing

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 07:44 AM

    Hi all,

    Is it recommended to use beacon probing as network failure detection method with two uplinks (active/active). We often have cases where link status is up for specific vmnic but somehow transmits no data and no failover occurs at the vmnic level.  So in this case, I believe that beacon probing might be the right choice as it tracks beacons over the network but i want to be sure?

    Thanks and regards,

    Ozan



  • 2.  RE: Beacon Probing
    Best Answer

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 02:07 PM

    For Beacon Probing you should have at least 3 uplinks (see http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1005577). Anyway, using Beacon Probing or anything else is more a workaround than a solution. I would probably want to find out the cause of this issue. Depending on your network setup (e.g. cascaded switches) link state tracking might be something to look at.

    André



  • 3.  RE: Beacon Probing

    Posted Jun 13, 2011 02:07 PM

    I would not advise using beacon probing on a 2 uplink team as a failure should not be able to be detected (the failed NIC would not be able to send the broadcast packet, and the good NIC would never hear either broadcast packet).

    More details are located in this KB:

    http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1005577