For multiple hosts or a stateless host, you can configure the virtual functions of the physical NIC by using a host profile and apply the profile on a host by using Auto Deploy.
For information about running ESXi by using Auto Deploy with host profiles, see the vCenter Server Installation and Setup documentation.
You can also enable SR-IOV virtual functions on the host by using the esxcli system module parameters set vCLI command on the NIC driver parameter for virtual functions in accordance with the driver documentation. For more information about using vCLI commands, see vSphere Command-Line Interface Documentation.
Prerequisites
- Verify that the configuration of your environment supports SR-IOV. See SR-IOV Support.
- Create a host profile based on the SR-IOV capable host. See the vSphere Host Profiles documentation.
Procedure
Results
The virtual functions appear in the PCI Devices list on the Settings tab for the host.
What to do next
Associate a virtual function with a virtual machine adapter by using the SR-IOV passthrough network adapter type. See Assign a Virtual Function as SR-IOV Passthrough Adapter to a Virtual Machine.