You can add and configure an IPv6 VMkernel NIC by using vicfg-vmknic.

Specify one of the options listed in Connection Options for vCLI Host Management Commands in place of <conn_options>.

Procedure

  1. Add a new VMkernel network interface.
    You must specify the IP address by using --ip, the netmask, and the name. For the following examples, assume that VMSF-VMK-363 is a port group to which you want to add a VMkernel network interface. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --add --ip <ip_address> -n 255.255.255.0 VMSF-VMK-363
    You can specify the MTU setting when adding a VMkernel network interface. You cannot change that setting at a later time.
    When the command finishes successfully, the newly added VMkernel network interface is enabled.
  2. Enable IPv6. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --enable-ipv6 true VMSF-VMK-363
  3. Supply an IPv6 address. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --ip <ip_address> VMSF-VMK-363
    For IPv6, the IP address can have one of the following formats.
    • <X:X:X::/X> - Static IPv6 address.
    • DHCPV6 – Use DHCP IPv6 address. The VMkernel supports DHCP only for ESXi 4.0 and later.
    • AUTOCONF – Use the IPv6 address advertised by the router. If you create a VMkernel network interface with AUTOCONF, an address is assigned immediately. If you add AUTOCONF to an existing vmknic, the address is added when the router sends the next router advert.
  4. (Optional) Enable vMotion.
    By default, vMotion is disabled. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --enable-vmotion VMSF-VMK-363
    You can later use --disable-vmotion to disable vMotion for this VMkernel network interface.
  5. List information about all VMkernel network interfaces on the system. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --list
    The command displays the network information, port group, MTU, and current state for each virtual network adapter in the system.
  6. (Optional) Remove the IPv6 address and disable IPv6. 
    vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --unset-ip <X:X:X::/X> VMSF-VMK-363
vicfg-vmknic <conn_options> --enable-ipv6 false VMSF-VMK-363