Sometimes you need pass through Trunk to VMs on ESXi emvitonment. Ex: Nested ESXi with NSX.
To set a standard vSwitch portgroup to trunk mode:
- Edit host networking via the Virtual infrastructure Client.
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Navigate to Host > Configuration > Networking > vSwitch > Properties.
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Click Ports > Portgroup > Edit.
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Click the General tab.
- Set the VLAN ID to 4095. A VLAN ID of 4095 represents all trunked VLANs.
- Click OK.
To set a distributed vSwitch portgroup to trunk mode:
- Edit host networking via the Virtual infrastructure Client.
- Navigate to Home > Inventory > Networking.
- Right-click on the dvPortGroup and select Edit Settings.
- Within that dvPortGroup, go to Policies > VLAN.
- 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.