ESXi 5 Cluster question. Can I use my ISCSI VMK for management?

[SilverNZ]

Hi Everyone,

We are planning to move our hosts into a cluster(they are currently standalone hosts). We have 4 NICs on each host. They are setup as follows:

1. 2x NICs teamed for VM traffic
2. 1x NIC with one VMK setup for ISCSI(software initiator)
3. 1x NIC with one VMK setup for ISCSI(software initiator)

Clustering best practices recommend that the hosts have more than one VMK defined for management traffic in order to reduce the risk of isolation. Can I use one of my ISCSI VMKs for management traffic as well? Or is that not recommended? Alternatively, can I add a second VMK to a network card that is being used for ISCSI and run management on that?

TIA!

[narenotpp]

yes, why not, mark same VMK which you are using for iSCSI traffic for management also.

alternatively if you want to separate traffic with the help of VLAN tagging then yes use different VMK on same uplink which you are using for iSCSI communication.

[CoolRam]

I would suggest you to read through the vlan concept and sddc networking . this complete picture help you to understand ,how you should design your networking

[SavkoorSuhas]

Yes you can

[a_p_]

IMO there's no need for a second Management VMkernel port group. With your current layout you do have two uplinks (vmnics) for the VM network, and assuming that this is the network used for Management, the Management Port Group can already failover to another uplink in case one fails.

André

[SilverNZ]

Thank you, I appreciate it