How to add additional physical NIC to existing VMkernel Link ?

We may need to add the additional network interface card to existing VMkernel link to  reduce the network overhead and  balance the network load between two are more physical interfaces. Having more than one physical NIC also adds the network redundancy. I have been in a situation to increase the  dedicated VSAN network performance due to heavy traffic by adding additional NIC to existing virtual Switch.

Here we will see that how we can add the additional NIC card to existing virtual switch. Here My VSAN traffic is going through virtual switch vswitch1.

1. Login to vSphere client and navigate to vSphere host’s networking.You can also directly add the additional NIC from virtual switches. But the below navigation gives you an idea that where its going to be effect. Click on the new network icon.Here let me add the additional NIC  on vSwitch1 to improve the VSAN network performance.

2.Select the physical network adapter

3.Select an existing switch option and browse to find the existing virtual switches.Let me select vSwitch1.

4.Click on the “+” to assign the new NIC to vSwitch1.It will open a popup window to choose the NIC.

5.Select the new NIC and click OK.

Select the New NIC

6.Now you can see that two physical network adapter has been assigned to vSwitch1.

7.Click Finish to complete the wizard.

8.You can see that VSAN VMkernel adapter  is using vSwitch and now this switch has two NICs.

That’s it .We have successfully added the new physical adapter to existing vSwitch on VMware vSphere Environment. Now vSwitch1 networks has redundancy and network load balancing.

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