Create external networks in vCenter

Abiquo 6.1.1 can create an external network in vCenter when you create the network or when you deploy the first VM. And Abiquo 6.1.1 can leave the external network in vCenter after you undeploy the last VM in the network.

In previous versions (< v6.1.1), Abiquo creates an external network in vCenter when you deploy the first VM. Abiquo also deletes the network when you undeploy the last VM.

Abiquo external networks belong to one Abiquo tenant only and can use any type of IP addresses. When you create an external network, you must specify the network tag for the virtual network.

To create external networks in vCenter when you create them in Abiquo, first create a port-group device to manage the networks in vCenter for the datacenter.

A port-group device in the Infrastructure view

To create the port-group device, you will need to enter vCenter credentials.

Create a port-group device, entering vCenter credentials

Then when you create an external network, you can select the port-group device. Then the UI will display the Network interfaces, which are the virtual distributed switches (VDSs). (If you are not using a device, it will display the Network service types).

The UI will list all the network interfaces of the datacenter. If the datacenter contains multiple vCenter clusters, and the VDSs are shared, the UI will list only one. For vCenter hosts, Abiquo 6.1.1 will list duplicate VDSs.

Abiquo 6.1.1 also lets you click a link to Show used tags for the port-group.

When you save the network, Abiquo will create the port-group in vCenter with the appropriate network interface and tag.