How to Create a VM Network in VMM in System Center 2012 SP1
Updated: May 13, 2016
Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager
With VMM in System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and System Center 2012 R2, you can configure virtual machine networks (VM networks) on top of your logical networks. This topic describes how you can create a VM network in VMM in System Center 2012 SP1 only. For information about how to create a VM network in VMM in System Center 2012 R2, see How to Create a VM Network in VMM in System Center 2012 R2.
VM networks make use of network virtualization or other network configuration options. Network virtualization extends the concept of server virtualization to allow you to deploy multiple virtual networks (VM networks) on the same physical network. VM networks can also be configured in other ways, as described in Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM.
Important
- For more information about the ways that you can use VM networks and other networking options to support your virtual machine configurations, see Common Scenarios for Networking in System Center 2012 SP1 and System Center 2012 R2.
- For illustrations of VM network configurations, see Configuring VM Networks in VMM Illustrated Overview.
- To understand the configuration of VM networks that use network virtualization, it can be useful to review the illustrations and descriptions (especially the first illustration) of Hyper-V network virtualization in Network Virtualization technical details. Hyper-V network virtualization is found in Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server® 2012 R2.
In the following table, identify the VM network option that you want, based on the descriptions in Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM. After you identify the VM network option, confirm that your logical network has been configured correctly, and then go to the appropriate procedure within this topic. For more information about configuring logical networks, see How to Create a Logical Network in VMM.
| Intended VM network option | Correct setting for the logical network on which you will add the VM network | Procedure within this topic |
|---|---|---|
| Hyper-V network virtualization (in other words, using isolation) | Select the check box to enable network virtualization. | Create a VM network on a logical network where network virtualization is enabled |
| VLAN-based configuration | Select Network sites within this logical network are not connected. If you are using private VLAN technology, also select the check box for private VLANs. Otherwise, do not select it. |
Create a VM network on a logical network that uses VLANs for isolation |
| One VM network that gives direct access to a logical network (by using "no isolation") | Either leave all check boxes cleared, or select the check box to enable network virtualization. | Create a VM network that gives direct access to a logical network (no isolation) |
| Using external networks that are implemented through a vendor network-management console | Do not create the logical network manually from within VMM. Instead, follow the steps in the next column to the right. The logical network settings will be imported from the database in the vendor network-management console. | Add the virtual switch extension manager that is associated with your vendor network-management console, as described in How to Add a Virtual Switch Extension Manager in System Center 2012 SP1. |
Create a VM network on a logical network where network virtualization is enabled
Important
- For information about prerequisites and options for VM networks and gateways, see Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM.
- If you want to create a VM network and configure it with a gateway at the same time, you must first add the gateway to your VMM configuration. You can also add a gateway later, then open the property sheet of an existing VM network and configure the VM network to use the gateway. For more details, see How to Add a Non-Windows Gateway in VMM in System Center 2012 SP1.
To create a VM network on a logical network where network virtualization is enabled
Open the VMs and Services workspace.
On the Home tab, in the Show group, click VM Networks.
In the VMs and Services pane, click VM Networks.
On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create VM Network.
The Create VM Network Wizard opens.
On the Name page, enter a name and optional description, and then in the Logical network list, select the logical network on which you want to create the VM network. (This must be a logical network on which network virtualization is enabled.) Then click Next.
Note
The wizard pages and VM network properties that you can configure will vary depending on the properties of the logical network that you selected.
On the Isolation page, select Isolate using Hyper-V network virtualization. (If you do not want to use network virtualization, return to the table at the beginning of this topic and choose a procedure that matches your networking goals.) If needed, change the settings for the IP address protocol for the logical network and the IP address protocol for the VM network. Then click Next.
On the VM Subnets page, click Add, enter a name for the IP subnet and specify the subnet by using CIDR notation. Add more VM subnets as needed, and then click Next.
On the Gateway page, select one of the following options, and then click Next.
No connectivity: Select this if option if the virtual machines on this VM network will communicate only with other virtual machines on this VM network. (You can also select this option if you plan to configure the gateway properties of this VM network later.)
Remote networks: Select this option if the virtual machines on this VM network will communicate with other networks through a VPN tunnel, and then, on the VPN gateway device list, select the VPN gateway device that you want to use.
If you select Remote networks and select a VPN gateway device, the VPN Connection and VPN Settings pages of the wizard appear. Fill in these pages based on information that you obtain from the administrator of that VPN gateway, for example, information about authentication and certificates. For more details, see “Prerequisites for gateways” in Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM. After you fill in the settings on each page, click Next.
Local networks: Select this option if the virtual machines on this VM network will communicate with other networks in this data center, and then, on the Gateway device list, select the gateway device that you want to use.
On the Summary page, review and confirm the settings, and then click Finish.
Verify that the VM network appears in the VM Networks and IP Pools pane.
Create a VM network on a logical network that uses VLANs for isolation
Important
For information about prerequisites and options for VM networks, see Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM.
To create a VM network on a logical network that uses VLANs for isolation
Open the VMs and Services workspace.
On the Home tab, in the Show group, click VM Networks.
In the VMs and Services pane, click VM Networks.
On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create VM Network.
The Create VM Network Wizard opens.
On the Name page, enter a name and optional description, in the Logical network list, select a logical network, and then click Next.
Note
The wizard pages and VM network properties that you can configure will vary depending on the properties of the logical network that you selected.
On the Isolation page, select one of the following, and then click Next. If you do not see these options, confirm that you selected the logical network that you intended, and review the table at the beginning of this topic.
Automatic: Select this option to have VMM automatically configure the isolation of the VM network. VMM will select a network site and subnet VLAN, based on the ones that are available on the logical network.
Specify a VLAN: Select this option to manually configure the isolation of the VM network, and then, in the Logical network definition list, select a network site (which is also called a logical network definition) and, in the Subnet VLAN list, select a VLAN.
Note
This option is available only to Administrators and Fabric Administrators (Delegated Administrators). Tenant Administrators can select only the Automatic option.
On the Summary page, review and confirm the settings, and then click Finish.
Verify that the VM network appears in the VM Networks and IP Pools pane.
Create a VM network that gives direct access to a logical network (no isolation)
Important
For information about prerequisites and options for VM networks, see Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM.
To create a VM network that gives direct access to a logical network (no isolation)
Open the VMs and Services workspace.
On the Home tab, in the Show group, click VM Networks.
In the VMs and Services pane, click VM Networks.
On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create VM Network.
The Create VM Network Wizard opens.
On the Name page, enter a name and optional description, in the Logical network list, select a logical network, and then click Next.
Note
The wizard pages and VM network properties that you can configure will vary depending on the properties of the logical network that you selected.
On the Isolation page, select No isolation (or confirm that it is selected), and then click Next. If you do not see this option, confirm that you selected the logical network that you intended, and review the table at the beginning of this topic.
The No isolation option is the only available option if the logical network was configured without network virtualization being enabled.
Note
Only one VM network with No isolation can be created per logical network.
On the Summary page, review and confirm the settings, and then click Finish.
Verify that the VM network appears in the VM Networks and IP Pools pane.
See Also
How to Create a Logical Network in VMM
Common Scenarios for Networking in System Center 2012 SP1 and System Center 2012 R2
Configuring VM Networks in VMM Illustrated Overview
Configuring VM Networks and Gateways in VMM
How to Create a VM Network in VMM in System Center 2012 R2
Configuring Networking in VMM