Does a second Standard vSwitch need a vmKernel Adapter?

[Dan Longo]

We are not currently using 10Gbps switching in our ESXi environment.  To test 10Gbps speeds i peeled off one of our physical NICs from our single Standard vSwitch and created a new Standard Switch with a single Network (VLAN).   The plan is to plug that physical NIC into a 10Gbps switchport and place two VMs on the new Standard vSwitch.   Does that new Standard vSwitch need a vmKernel adapter (no vMotion is required for this testing) for Management or will I be able to place the new VMs onto the new switch to test the speeds?

[a_p_]

Short answer: No.

Longer answer:
You can create  VM port groups and VMkernel portgroups on a standard vSwitch.
In case that you are only plan to attach VMs, there's no need to create a VMkernel port group to a vSwitch.

André