Add and Configure an IPv6 VMkernel Network Interface with ESXCLI

You can add and configure an IPv6 VMkernel NIC by using ESXCLI.

1. Add a new VMkernel network interface.

   esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface add --interface-name=vmk<x> --portgroup-name=<my_portgroup>

   You can specify the MTU setting after you have added the network interface by using esxcli network ip interface set --mtu.
   When the command finishes successfully, the newly added VMkernel network interface is enabled.
2. Run esxcli network ip interface ipv6 address add to configure the interface as an IPv6 interface.
   You must specify the IP address using --ip and the name. For the following examples, assume that VMSF-VMK-363 is a port group to which you want to add a VMkernel network interface.

   esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv6 address add --ip=<X:X:X::/X> --interface-name=vmk<X>

   You can set the address as follows.
   • <X:X:X::/X> - Static IPv6 address.
   • --enable-dhcpv6 - Enables DHCPv6 on this interface and attempts to acquire an IPv6 address from the network.
   • --enable-router-adv - Use the IPv6 address advertised by the router. The address is added when the router sends the next router advert.
   The VMkernel supports DHCP only for ESXi 4.0 and later.
   When the command finishes successfully, the newly added VMkernel network interface is enabled.
3. List information about all VMkernel network interfaces on the system.

   esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface list

   The command displays the network information, port group, MTU, and current state for each virtual network adapter in the system.
4. (Optional) Remove the IPv6 address and disable IPv6.

   esxcli <conn_options> network ip interface ipv6 address remove --interface-name=<VMK_NIC> --ipv6=<ipv6_addr>
   esxcli <conn_options> network ip set --ipv6-enabled=false