get mac address of external physical switch

[Schaedle]

Hi,

is there any way to get the mac address of the external hardware switch, where my ESXi is physically connected to?

Thanks Wolfgang

[pragg12]

Hi,

This is possible through CDP.

Check this KB: VMware Knowledge Base

Let us know the ESXi version and the details of external hardware switch (make, model) which is connected to this ESXi host.

[Schaedle]

Hi pragg12,

thanks for the KB Article this was not new for me, but there is no information presented. It's only a Standard License.

I only know the ESXi Version - this is 6.7 all other is unknown for me and this is the reason why I want to know what's behind that physical port. Unfortunately I'm over 10.000km away from the hardware and I'm not sure what the local supporter really did.

Thanks Wolfgang

[goliat585858]

Hi,

I think this is quite unusual approach, as normally you can enable CDP/LLDP on your switch, and then identify physical switch name and port number in vSphere Client and get mac address from the switch.

If you don't have any other possibilities I would try with

1. Connect to host with putty.

2.Replace vmnic0 with your nic number.  Run command : pktcap-uw --uplink vmnic0 -c 500 -o /tmp/test.pcap

3. Connect to host with WinSCP and copy test.pcap file

4. Open file in Wireshark

5. Check STP or LOOP protocol

[pragg12]

Hi Schaedle

Did you get what you were looking for ?

[Schaedle]

Hi pragg12,

sorry for my late replay. I had some bigger problems so I had to postpone this case here. It looks brillant and I'm sure this will help me. Hopefully I can go back to this in two days.

When it worked I'll mark you're answer as correct one. Many, many thanks for this great solution!

Wolfgang