How to Create a VMKernel Port Using ESXi 8 Host Client

Objective

The objective is to create a VMKernel port using the ESXi 8 Host Client.

Prerequisites

1. Ensure that you have an ESXi 8 host installed and running.
2. Make sure you have access to the ESXi Host Client. You can access it through a web browser by entering the IP address or hostname of the ESXi host.
3. You need administrative privileges to configure networking settings on the ESXi host.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Log in to the ESXi Host Client using your credentials.
2. Navigate to the “Networking” section of the host configuration in the ESXi Host Client. Select the “VMkernel NICs” tab and click on “Add VMkernel NIC.”
3. Enter a name for the VMkernel port and choose the vSwitch that you want to connect to. Also, enter an IP address and subnet mask for the VMkernel port, and configure any other network settings as needed.
4. The VMkernel port can be used for various purposes, such as vMotion, iSCSI storage, or management traffic. Make sure to configure the network settings for your specific use case by choosing the appropriate “TCP/IP stack.”
   1. Default TCP/IP stack: This is the default stack that is installed with ESXi. It supports standard IP networking, and is used for management traffic, vMotion, and other types of traffic.
   2. Provisioning TCP/IP stack: This stack is designed for use with VMware vSphere Auto Deploy. It includes support for DHCP, TFTP, and other network protocols that are required for automated provisioning of ESXi hosts.
   3. vMotion TCP/IP stack: This stack is used specifically for vMotion traffic. It includes optimizations for large data transfers, and is designed to provide low-latency, high-bandwidth connections between hosts for efficient live migrations.Click “Create” 
5. You have successfully created a VMkernel port in ESXi Host Client.

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