vNIC Groups in Dedicated Mode
vNIC Groups in Shared Mode
© Copyright Lenovo 2016
Virtual machines (VMs) and other VEs associated with vNICs are automatically
detected by the switch when VMready is enabled (see Chapter
However, vNIC groups are isolated from other switch elements. VEs in vNIC
groups cannot be assigned to VM groups.
The vNIC group VLAN ID is placed on all vNIC group packets as an "outer" tag.
As shown in Figure
27, the outer vNIC group VLAN ID is placed on the packet in
addition to any regular VLAN tag assigned by the network, server, or hypervisor.
The outer vNIC group VLAN is used only between the G8264 and the NIC.
Figure 27. Outer and Inner VLAN Tags
vNIC-Capable Server
OS/Hypervisor
Regular
NIC attached outer
VLAN ID
vNIC group VLAN ID
Outbound
Packet
Outer tag sets vNIC;
NIC strips outer tag
Inbound
Packet
Within the G8264, all Layer 2 switching for packets within a vNIC group is based
on the outer vNIC group VLAN. The G8264 does not consider the regular, inner
VLAN ID (if any) for any VLAN‐specific operation.
The outer vNIC group VLAN is removed by the NIC before the packet reaches the
server OS or hypervisor, or by the switch before the packet egresses any internal
port or external uplink port which does not need it for vNIC processing.
The vNIC group VLAN ID is placed on all vNIC group packets as an "outer" tag.
As shown in Figure
28, the outer vNIC group VLAN ID is placed on the packet in
addition to any regular VLAN tag assigned by the network, server, or hypervisor.
Figure 28. Outer and Inner VLAN Tags
vNIC-Capable Server
OS/Hypervisor
Regular
NIC attached outer
VLAN ID
vNIC group VLAN ID
Outbound
Packet
Outer tag sets vNIC;
NIC strips outer tag
Inbound
Packet
Within the G8264, all Layer 2 switching for packets within a vNIC group is based
on the outer vNIC group VLAN. The G8264 does not consider the regular, inner
VLAN ID (if any) for any VLAN‐specific operation.
Ports with
vNICs
NIC
Switching uses outer tag;
Ignores regular VLAN
Switching uses outer tag;
Ignores regular VLAN
Ports with
vNICs
NIC
Switching uses outer tag;
Ignores regular VLAN
Switching uses outer tag;
Ignores regular VLAN
20, "VMready").
Lenovo Switch
Ports without
Switch strips
outer tag
Switch adds outer
vNIC group VLAN ID
IBM Switch
Ports without
Switch does not
strip outer tag
Switch retains
outer tag
Chapter 19: Virtual NICs
vNICs
vNICs
329