Meru Technical Note - Configuration of a VLAN tagging at virtual machine level

Overview

• 802.1Q VLAN trunking driver is required inside the virtual machine.
• 64bit windows guest operating system automatically loads 802.1q E1000 driver.
• 32bit guest operating system – requires manual configuration of the VMX file to point to E1000 driver.
• Physical switch is set to trunk mode by using VLAN ID 4095.
• Windows: Only 64bit Windows ships with E1000 Drivers.
• Linux: Use dot1q module.

Configuration of VirtualSwitch (vSwitch)

To set a standard vSwitch portgroup to trunk mode:

1. Edit host networking via the Virtual infrastructure Client.
2. Click Host > Configuration > Networking > vSwitch > Properties.
3. Click Ports > Portgroup > Edit.
4. Click the General tab.
5. Set the VLAN ID to 4095.A VLAN ID of 4095 represents all trunked VLANs.

6. Click OK.

To set a distributed vSwitchportgroup to trunk mode:

1. Edit host networking via the Virtual infrastructure Client.
2. ClickHome > Inventory > Networking.
3. Right click on the dvPortGroup and choose Edit Settings.
4. Within thatdvPortGroup navigate toPolicies > VLAN.
5. Set VLAN type to VLAN Trunking and specify a range of VLANs or specificy a list of VLANs to be passed to the Virtual Machines connected to this portgroup.
   
   Note: To improve security, virtual Distributed Switches allow you to specify a range or selection of VLANs to trunk rather than allowing all VLANS via VLAN 4095.