Segment profiles include Layer 2 networking configuration details for segments and segment ports. NSX Manager supports several types of segment profiles.

The following types of segment profiles are available:

  • QoS (Quality of Service)
  • IP Discovery
  • SpoofGuard
  • Segment Security
  • MAC Management
Note: You cannot edit or delete the default segment profiles. If you require alternate settings from what is in the default segment profile you can create a custom segment profile. By default all custom segment profiles except the segment security profile will inherit the settings of the appropriate default segment profile. For example, a custom IP discovery segment profile by default will have the same settings as the default IP discovery segment profile.

Each default or custom segment profile has a unique identifier. You use this identifier to associate the segment profile to a segment or a segment port.

A segment or segment port can be associated with only one segment profile of each type. You cannot have, for example, two QoS segment profiles associated with a segment or segment port.

If you do not associate a segment profile when you create a segment, then the NSX Manager associates a corresponding default system-defined segment profile. The children segment ports inherit the default system-defined segment profile from the parent segment.

When you create or update a segment or segment port you can choose to associate either a default or a custom segment profile. When the segment profile is associated or disassociated from a segment the segment profile for the children segment ports is applied based on the following criteria.

  • If the parent segment has a profile associated with it, the child segment port inherits the segment profile from the parent.
  • If the parent segment does not have a segment profile associated with it, a default segment profile is assigned to the segment and the segment port inherits that default segment profile.
  • If you explicitly associate a custom profile with a segment port, then this custom profile overrides the existing segment profile.
Note: If you have associated a custom segment profile with a segment, but want to retain the default segment profile for one of the child segment port, then you must make a copy of the default segment profile and associate it with the specific segment port.

You cannot delete a custom segment profile if it is associated to a segment or a segment port. You can find out whether any segments and segment ports are associated with the custom segment profile by going to the Assigned To section of the Summary view and clicking on the listed segments and segment ports.