== Connect ESX Host To Cisco Switch With Gigabit !EtherChannel ==

The `vSwitch0` virtual switch was created during installation of ESX software on the host. Service concole port (`vswif0`) and the "VM Network" port group are both connected to this switch. In **vSphere Client** (//Configuration > Networking//) default setup will be depicted like this:

[[Image(vSwitch0-00.png)]]

The same information can be displayed from the command line on ESX host as well.
{{{
# esxcfg-vswitch -l
Switch Name      Num Ports   Used Ports  Configured Ports  MTU     Uplinks
vSwitch0         128         3           128               1500    vmnic0

  PortGroup Name        VLAN ID  Used Ports  Uplinks
  VM Network            0        0           vmnic0
  Service Console       0        1           vmnic0

#
}}}

First will add a VMkernel port group and configure its IP settings (required for VMotion).

{{{
# esxcfg-vswitch -A VMKernel vSwitch0
# esxcfg-vmknic -a -i 10.10.10.20 -n 255.255.255.0 VMKernel
}}}

{{{#!comment
[[Image(vSwitch0-01.png)]]
}}}

Then will link three additional physical network adapters to the same virtual switch.
{{{
# esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic1 vSwitch0
# esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic6 vSwitch0
# esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic7 vSwitch0
#
# esxcfg-vswitch -l
Switch Name      Num Ports   Used Ports  Configured Ports  MTU     Uplinks
vSwitch0         128         7           128               1500    vmnic0,vmnic1,vmnic6,vmnic7

  PortGroup Name        VLAN ID  Used Ports  Uplinks
  VM Network            0        0           vmnic0,vmnic1,vmnic6,vmnic7
  VMKernel              0        1           vmnic0,vmnic1,vmnic6,vmnic7
  Service Console       0        1           vmnic0,vmnic1,vmnic6,vmnic7

#
}}}

To configure //NIC Teaming// will use the **vSphere Client**.

[[Image(vSwitch0-02.png)]]

In **vSwitch0 Properties** open the **NIC Teaming** tab, and choose the //"Route based on IP hash"// option for **Load Balancing**, and also choose //"No"// for **Fallback**. On the **General** tab one can adjust number of ports supported by the virtual switch. In the latter case reboot will be required for this new setting to take effect.

[[Image(vSwitch0-03.png)]]

On a **Cisco C2960** switch configure static (without PAgP or LACP) four-port 802.3ad channel group (interfaces Gi0/13 thru Gi0/16 are all configured identically).

{{{
port-channel load-balance src-dst-ip
!
interface Port-channel1
 switchport access vlan 301
 switchport mode access
 spanning-tree portfast
!
interface GigabitEthernet0/13
 switchport access vlan 301
 switchport mode access
 no cdp enable
 channel-group 1 mode on
 spanning-tree portfast
!
}}}

**See Also:**

  http://www.vmware.com/resources/techresources/997 \\ VMware Virtual Networking Concepts (VMware Technical Papers)

  http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst2960/software/release/12.2_52_se/configuration/guide/swethchl.html \\ Configuring !EtherChannels and Link-State Tracking (Catalyst 2960 Switch Software Configuration Guide)

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_aggregation \\ Link aggregation (Wikipedia)