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How to Configure Global Network Settings in VMM

 

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 - Virtual Machine Manager

You can use the following procedure to configure global networking settings in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM). With these optional settings, you can configure the automatic creation of logical networks, the automatic association of a host’s physical network adapter with a logical network, and the automatic creation of external virtual networks on host network adapters.

The labels in the dialog box described in this procedure vary slightly among System Center 2012, System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1), and System Center 2012 R2. These differences are noted in the table that follows.

Note

This procedure is optional. Change these settings only if you want to modify the default behavior. For more information about the default behavior, see “Assigning logical networks to hosts” in Configuring Logical Networking in VMM Overview.

Account requirements To complete this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrator user role.

How to configure global networking settings

  1. Open the Settings workspace.

  2. In the Settings pane, click General.

  3. In the results pane, double-click Network Settings.

  4. Configure any of the following settings:

    Area Settings
    Logical network matching You can configure how VMM determines the logical network name to use when the automatic creation of logical networks is enabled. The following options are available. Note: This setting is only applied when you add a host to VMM management and there is no logical network associated with a physical network adapter on the host. Changes to this setting do not affect hosts that are already under management. Also, for VMware ESX and Citrix XenServer hosts, the options of First DNS Suffix Label and DNS Suffix are not supported. Therefore, by default, ESX and XenServer hosts use the Virtual Network Switch Name option.

    - First DNS Suffix Label (the default)
    The first suffix label of the connection-specific DNS suffix. For example, if the DNS suffix is corp.contoso.com, VMM creates a logical network that is named “corp”.
    - DNS Suffix
    The full connection-specific DNS suffix. For example, if the DNS suffix is corp.contoso.com, VMM creates a logical network that is named “corp.contoso.com”.
    - Network Connection Name
    The network connection name. For example, if the network connection is named Local Area Connection 2, VMM creates a logical network that is named “Local Area Connection 2”.
    - Virtual Network Switch Name
    The name of the virtual network switch to which the physical network adapter of the host is bound.
    - Disabled

    You can also specify the option to use if the first logical network matching selection fails. You can select one of the following options:

    - Virtual Network Switch Name (default)
    - Network Connection Name
    - Disabled
    Automatic creation of logical networks By default, the Create logical networks automatically setting is enabled. If there is no logical network associated with a physical network adapter on the host, VMM automatically creates and associates a logical network based on the logical network matching selection. By default, this is the first DNS suffix label of the connection-specific DNS suffix. Starting with System Center 2012 SP1, on the logical network, VMM also creates a VM network configured with “no isolation.” Note: This setting is only applied when you add a host to VMM management and there is no logical network associated with a physical network adapter on the host. Changes to this setting do not affect hosts that are already under management.
    In System Center 2012: Automatic creation of virtual networks In System Center 2012, by default, the Create virtual networks automatically setting is enabled. If the host has a physical network adapter with an associated logical network, but no virtual networks attached, VMM automatically creates an external virtual network when VMM connects a virtual machine to a logical network that is associated with the physical network adapter. For example, VMM creates an external virtual network automatically when you create a virtual machine, migrate a virtual machine, or modify a virtual machine that uses the logical network that is associated with the physical network adapter. Note: This setting only applies to Hyper-V hosts.
    In System Center 2012 SP1: Automatic creation of virtual switches In System Center 2012 SP1, there is a setting labeled Create virtual switches automatically. However, selecting or clearing this check box has no effect. Virtual switches are not created automatically by VMM in System Center 2012 SP1.

See Also

Configuring Networking in VMM
Configuring Logical Networking in VMM Overview
Configuring Ports and Switches for VM Networks in VMM
Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM