How is network redundancy achieved in vSphere networking?

Network redundancy in vSphere networking is effectively achieved by configuring multiple VMkernel NICs on different physical NICs. This approach ensures that if one physical NIC fails, the VMkernel can continue to function via the other physical NIC, thus maintaining network connectivity and enhancing the overall availability of virtual machines.

By having multiple VMkernel NICs, also known as vmnics, on separate physical NICs, you create pathways for data to travel. In the event of a failure in one of the physical connections, network traffic can be seamlessly rerouted through the other available connections without interruption. This concept of redundancy is crucial in virtualized environments, where availability and reliability are paramount.

In contrast, using a single VMkernel NIC does not provide any redundancy because it creates a single point of failure. If that NIC or its associated physical hardware encounters an issue, the communication for all associated traffic is lost. Network segmentation is important for managing traffic and improving performance, but it does not inherently provide redundancy. Lastly, while virtual switch configurations are important for network management and organization, they alone do not guarantee redundancy unless multiple physical adapters are utilized as mentioned.