Create and Manage Networks in VDC

This guide relies on the concepts covered in Getting Started in your VDC environment.

VDC networks are logical representations of a ‘normal’ network. VDC allows you to utilise multiple networks so that you can deploy multiple networks. This provides you with the flexibility for separate networks between applications or customer partitions.

We provide a “built-in” network upon deployment which has the name SAU-XXXXX-VD-network, matching your service’s “Order ID”. By default, this is on the 192.168.0.0/24 network. It connects to the NSX Edge Gateway which has an IP of 192.168.0.1. 

Creating a new network

In your VDC, navigate to Networking > Networks. 

Select New to create a new network.

Select your VDC as the scope for the new network. 

Define either of the two network types: 

• Isolated: This is an “internal-only” network. VMs connected to this network can talk to each other, but there is no external communication available to the outside world. Useful for direct VM-to-VM networks with no external connectivity required. 
• Routed: A more common network type. VMs connected to this network can reach the edge gateway (firewall/router) and talk to the Internet via the firewall and NAT rules you configured. Useful for most situations where VMs need to talk to each other as well as reach the Internet. 

If you’ve selected Routed, select the edge gateway available to your VDC. 

For both Isolated and Routed, in General, choose a name for the new network and the gateway CIDR.

Gateway CIDR represents the “gateway” address of the network you intend to create for example: 

You want to create a new network on 10.10.10.0/24. On this network, the edge gateway will have an IP of 10.10.10.1, leaving 10.10.10.2 - 10.10.10.254 usable for VMs. Enter 10.10.10.1/24 as the Gateway CIDR. 

Define a Static IP Pool. Static IP Pools can be considered as a more permanent, advanced form of DHCP. When configured to use an IP Pool, VMs have the IPs assigned and become static. Unlike DHCP, the lease for this IP does not expire like normal.

Make your Static IP Pool a part of the network you defined earlier. For example:

On the 10.10.10.0/24 network, 10.10.10.1 is the gateway. We want to define 10.10.10.2 - 10.10.10.100 as the pool. 

Define DNS for the network, including primary/secondary DNS and a suitable suffix. If you do not intend to use DNS within your local network, set the DNS to either: 

• The Edge Gateway IP (for example, 10.10.10.1)
• Our DNS Resolvers: 221.121.130.3 & 221.121.134.9; or
• A reliable third-party provider

Review the settings you’ve provided, then select Finish to provision the new network. 

The new network should now be displayed in the table, alongside your pre-existing network. 

When creating a new vApp/VM, you will now be able to select the network in the Networking section: 

Managing an existing network

There are a few features that can be edited after a network has been created. Select the network in the list. Navigate to the relevant section on the left-hand side, then press Edit. 

You can modify other settings including Static IP Pools and DNS through this feature. 

Note that you cannot modify the overall “network” address once it has been created. If you want to use a network other than 192.168.0.0/24 for the default network, create a new network using the steps provided above.