Deploy vSphere on IPv6

Run vSphere in a pure IPv6 environment to use an extended address space and flexible address assignment.

If you plan to deploy vCenter Server and ESXi hosts in an IPv6 network, you must perform additional steps.

Enable IPv6 on a vSphere Installation

If you have a greenfield deployment of vSphere 6.5 in an IPv6 network, configure ESXi and vCenter Server for pure IPv6 management connection by configuring IPv6 on the deployment nodes and connecting them.

Prerequisites

Verify that the IPv6 addresses for vCenter Server, the ESXi hosts and an external database, if used, are mapped to fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) on the DNS server.
Verify that the network infrastructure provides IPv6 connectivity for the ESXi hosts, vCenter Server and external database if used.
Verify that you have version 6.5 of vCenter Server installed with FQDN that is mapped to an IPv6 address. See the vCenter Server Installation and Setup documentation.
Verify that the hosts have ESXi 6.5 installed. See the vCenter Server Installation and Setup documentation.

Procedure

In the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI), configure each ESXi host as a pure IPv6 node.

In the DCUI, press F2 and log in to the host.
From the Configure Management Network menu, select IPv6 Configuration and press Enter.

Assign an IPv6 address to the host.

Address Assignment Option	Description
Automatic address assignment using DHCPv6	Select the Use dynamic IPv6 address and network configuration option and select Use DHCPv6. Press Enter to save the changes.
Static address assignment	Select the Set static IPv6 address and network configuration option and enter the IPv6 address of the host and the default gateway. Press Enter to save the changes.

From the Configure Management Network menu, select IPv4 Configuration and press Enter.
Select Disable IPv4 configuration for management network and press Enter.

In the vSphere Client, add the hosts to the inventory.

Enable IPv6 on an Upgraded vSphere Environment

On an IPv4 deployment of vSphere 6.5 that consists of an installed or upgraded vCenter Server and upgraded ESXi, configure ESXi and vCenter Server for pure IPv6 management connection by enabling IPv6 on the deployed nodes and reconnecting them.

Prerequisites

Verify that the network infrastructure provides IPv6 connectivity for the ESXi hosts, vCenter Server and external database if used.
Verify that the IPv6 addresses for vCenter Server, the ESXi hosts and an external database, if used, are mapped to fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) on the DNS server.
Verify that you have version 6.x of vCenter Server installed or upgraded. See the vCenter Server Installation and Setup and vCenter Server Upgrade documentation.
Verify that all ESXi hosts are upgraded to version 6.x. See the VMware ESXi Upgrade documentation.

Procedure

In the vSphere Client, disconnect the hosts from vCenter Server.

Configure each ESXi host as a pure IPv6 node.

Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host.

Run the following command:

esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -e true

Assign an IPv6 address to the management network.

Address Assignment Option	Description
Static address assignment	Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host. Set a static IPv6 address for the management network vmk0 by running the following command: esxcli network ip interface ipv6 address add -I `IPv6_address` -i vmk0 Set the default gateway for the management network vmk0 by running the following command: esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -g `default_gateway_IPv6_address` Add a DNS server by running the following command: esxcli network ip dns server add -s `DNS_server_IPv6_address`
Automatic address assignment using DHCPv6	Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host. Enable DHCPv6 for the management network vmk0 by running the following command: esxcli network ip interface ipv6 -i vmk0 -enable-dhcpv6 = true Enable IPv6 Router Advertised for the management network vmk0 by running the following command: esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -enable-router-adv =true Add a DNS server or use the DNS setting published by DHCPv6 by running one the following commands: esxcli network ip dns server add -s `DNS_server_IPv6_address` esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 --peer-dns=true

Address Assignment Option

Description

Static address assignment

Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host.
Set a static IPv6 address for the management network vmk0 by running the following command:
```
esxcli network ip interface ipv6 address add -I IPv6_address -i vmk0
```
Set the default gateway for the management network vmk0 by running the following command:
```
esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -g default_gateway_IPv6_address
```

Add a DNS server by running the following command:

esxcli network ip dns server add -s DNS_server_IPv6_address

Automatic address assignment using DHCPv6

Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host.
Enable DHCPv6 for the management network vmk0 by running the following command:
```
esxcli network ip interface ipv6 -i vmk0 -enable-dhcpv6 = true
```
Enable IPv6 Router Advertised for the management network vmk0 by running the following command:
```
esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 -enable-router-adv =true
```

Add a DNS server or use the DNS setting published by DHCPv6 by running one the following commands:

esxcli network ip dns server add -s DNS_server_IPv6_address

esxcli network ip interface ipv6 set -i vmk0 --peer-dns=true

Deactivate the IPv4 configuration for the management network.
1. Open an SSH connection and log in to the ESXi host.
2. Run the following command:
```
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 set -i vmk0 --type=none
```
If vCenter Server uses an external database, configure the database as an IPv6 node.
Configure vCenter Server as a pure IPv6 node and restart it.
Deactivate the IPv4 on the database server.
In the vSphere Client, add the hosts to the inventory.
Deactivate the IPv4 in the network infrastructure.