Basic NIC teaming uses multiple physical uplinks, one vmknic, and a single switch.

vSphere NIC teaming uses multiple uplink adapters, called vmnics, which are associated with a single virtual switch to form a team. This is the most basic option, and you can configure it using a standard vSphere standard switch or a vSphere distributed switch.

Basic NIC teaming

Failover and Redundancy

vSAN can use the basic NIC teaming and failover policy provided by vSphere.

NIC teaming on a vSwitch can have multiple active uplinks, or an Active/Standby uplink configuration. Basic NIC teaming does not require any special configuration at the physical switch layer.

Note: vSAN does not use NIC teaming for load balancing.

A typical NIC teaming configuration has the following settings. When working on distributed switches, edit the settings of the distributed port group used for vSAN traffic.

  • Load balancing: Route based on originating virtual port

  • Network failure detection: Link status only

  • Notify switches: Yes

  • Failback: Yes

Load Balancing vSAN traffic.

  • Load balancing: Route based on originating virtual port

  • Network failure detection: Link status only

  • Notify switches: Yes

  • Failback: Yes