How to Add a Virtual Switch Extension or Network Manager in System Center 2012 R2

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager

With System Center 2012 R2, if you add a virtual switch extension or network manager to Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), you can use the console for that virtual switch extension or network manager in a way that is coordinated with the VMM management server. This helps you keep the settings that you see in VMM synchronized with the settings that you configured through an interface other than VMM.

To do this, you must first install the provider software (provided by the vendor) on the VMM management server. Then you can add the virtual switch extension or network manager to VMM.

Use the following procedure to add a virtual switch extension or network manager to VMM in System Center 2012 R2.

If you want to add a virtual switch extension or network manager to your configuration in VMM, you must first perform the following tasks:

1. Obtain provider software from the manufacturer of the virtual switch extension or network manager, install the provider on the VMM management server, and then restart the System Center Virtual Machine Manager service. If you have installed a high-availability VMM management server on a cluster, be sure to install the provider on all nodes of the cluster. For more information about installing the provider, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation.

2. For your virtual switch extension or network manager, make sure that you know the manufacturer and model, the name of an account that has configuration permissions, the connection string, and the host groups to include. If certificates are used for the provider software, make sure you know how to view the thumbprint information for those certificates.

To add a virtual switch extension or network manager in System Center 2012 R2

1. Confirm that you have installed the necessary provider software. To do this, open the Settings workspace, and in the Settings pane, click Configuration Providers. In the Configuration Providers pane, review the list of installed provider software.

2. Open the Fabric workspace.

3. On the Home tab, in the Show group, click Fabric Resources.

4. In the Fabric pane, expand Networking, and then click Network Service.

   Network services include gateways, virtual switch extensions, network managers, and top-of-rack (TOR) switches.

5. On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add Resources, and then click Network Service.

   The Add Network Service Wizard opens.

6. On the Name page, type a name and optional description for the virtual switch extension or network manager, and then click Next.

7. On the Manufacturer and Model page, in the Manufacturer list, select a provider manufacturer, in the Model list, select a model, and then click Next.

8. On the Credentials page, either click Browse and then on the Select a Run As Account dialog box, select an account, or click Create Run As Account and create a new account. Then click Next.

9. On the Connection String page, in the Connection string box, type the connection string that is used by the virtual switch extension or network manager, and then click Next.

   For example, you might enter the connection string mynetworkmanager1.contoso.com:443.

   Important

   The syntax of the connection string is defined by the manufacturer of the virtual switch extension or network manager. For more information about the required syntax, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation.

10. If the Certificates page appears and certificates are listed, verify that the thumbprints of those certificates match the thumbprints of the certificates that are installed on the virtual switch extension or network manager. Then select the check box to confirm that the certificates can be imported to the trusted certificate store. Click Next.

    Note

    If no certificates are listed, the connection string that was provided probably does not require certificates, and you can continue to the next page of the wizard. However, if no certificates are listed but your virtual switch extension or network manager requires them, confirm that the certificates were installed correctly on your device. Then, to refresh the display on the Certificates page of the wizard, click Previous and then click Next.

11. On the Provider page, in the Configuration provider list, select an available provider, and then click Test to use the selected provider to run basic validation tests against the virtual switch extension or network manager. If the tests indicate that the provider works as expected, click Next.

    Results that say Passed or Failed indicate whether the provider works as expected. One possible cause of failure is insufficient permissions in the Run As account. Results that say Implemented and Not implemented are informational only, and indicate whether the provider supports a particular API.

12. On the Host Group page, select one or more host groups to which the virtual switch extension or network manager will be available.

13. On the Summary page, review and confirm the settings, and then click Finish.

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