ESXI MANAGEMENT IP UNREACHABLE AFTER ENABLING PORT CHANNEL ON CISCO SWITCH

This post is just a note to self so that I remember next time WHY!the management IP for ESXi is unreachable after port channeling is enabled on Cisco Switch. Simple topology, ESXi server has two connections plugged into Cisco switch.

Cisco configuration end:
!
interface Port-channel1
description ESXi-1
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
switchport nonegotiate
!
interface GigabitEthernet1/0/3
description ESXi-1 Gb1
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
switchport nonegotiate
channel-group 1 mode on
!
interface GigabitEthernet1/0/4
description ESXi-1 Gb2
switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
switchport mode trunk
switchport nonegotiate
channel-group 1 mode on
!

core-sw#sh etherchanne 1 summ
Flags: D – down P – bundled in port-channel
I – stand-alone s – suspended
H – Hot-standby (LACP only)
R – Layer3 S – Layer2
U – in use f – failed to allocate aggregator

M – not in use, minimum links not met
u – unsuitable for bundling
w – waiting to be aggregated
d – default port
Number of channel-groups in use: 1
Number of aggregators: 1

Group Port-channel Protocol Ports
——+————-+———–+———————————————–
1 Po1(SU) – Gi1/0/3(P) Gi1/0/4(P)
core-sw#

As per VMware KB; you need to enable “Route based on IP hash” NIC teaming, Load Balancing. As per screenshot below, this is enabled under vSwitch0. To get to this screen navigate to “Configuration” tab on the ESXi host and click on “Networking”. Click on the “Properties…” hyperlink for Virtual Switch: vSwitch0

Ensure that behind the “Network Adapters” tab both NIC interfaces has been added.

MOST IMPORTANT TIP!!

Ensure that all additional network that is created for your respective VM are inheriting the settings from vSwitch0. Highlighted in the red box below; if none of the box are checked then all settings from vSwitch0 will be inherited. Obviously at times there would be cases where you do not want inherited settings therefore you can tick the checkbox and make changes accordingly.