NSX 4.0: A “Clean House” Release with IPv6 Support
VMware’s NSX 4.0 has been released, and it’s a notable one for several reasons. While the release may appear sparse in terms of new capabilities, it addresses a variety of issues that were previously open. In this blog post, we’ll explore how a new deployment may differ from previous installations, with a focus on IPv6 support and how to seamlessly integrate it into your existing infrastructure.
IPv6 Support in NSX 4.0
One of the most significant changes in NSX 4.0 is the addition of IPv6 support. With the increasing adoption of IPv6, it’s essential to have a plan for accessing IPv6 addresses. The best strategy for enterprises and home labs is roughly the same, but with different products. To enable IPv6 support in NSX 4.0, you’ll need to make your DNS dual-stack and enter AAAA (IPv6 host records) for each service that supports both IPv4 and IPv6. This will ensure that end users can access services using either IPv4 or IPv6, without any disruptions.
Configuring DNS as-code from a source repository is an excellent way to make the migration easy. Additionally, the browser add-on IPvFoo can tell you if you’re using native IPv4 or a fallback mode, and it’ll also provide information on what IP addresses you’re talking to for a given page to load. To access an IPv6 address in a web browser, the notation is slightly different: {{protocol}}://[{{site}}]/.
IPv6 Support in vCenter
To fully leverage IPv6, it’s essential to give vCenter the same treatment as your other IPv6-enabled services. VMware provides documentation on how to enable IPv6 support in vCenter, which can be found here. It’s important to note that executing this work will incur brief downtime for vCenter and may interrupt services like VCHA. Therefore, it’s essential to execute a vCenter backup before making the change.
Front-End IPv6 Support in NSX 4.0
NSX Manager now has an IPv6 address in the Appliance UI, indicating that IPv6 support is enabled. Additionally, IPvFoo reports all IPv6 for the front-end, confirming that IPv6 is properly configured and functional.
Conclusion
NSX 4.0 is a “clean house” initiative that addresses several issues but may appear sparse in terms of new capabilities. However, the addition of IPv6 support is a significant improvement, enabling enterprises and home labs to seamlessly integrate IPv6 into their existing infrastructure. With proper planning and configuration, end users won’t need to care about IPv6 being used, ensuring a smooth transition to the new address system. As always, it’s essential to execute backups and plan for brief downtime before making any significant changes to your infrastructure.