A transport node is a node that is capable of participating in an NSX-T Data Center overlay or NSX-T Data Center VLAN networking. Any node can serve as a transport node if it contains an N-VDS. Such nodes include but are not limited to NSX Edges.
How to Prepare ESXi Hosts
System > Configuration > Fabric > Nodes > Host Transport Nodes
Select the vCenter your ESXi hosts are deployed into from the drop down next to Managed by
Select the cluster you wish to include in NSX-T and select configure NSX
If this is a fresh install I always click Create New Transport Node Profile, otherwise, select an existing TN Profile.
Provide a name.
Deploying in vSphere 7.x select VIRTUAL DISTRIBUTED SWITCH
By default I leave mode as standard unless you have a use case for ENS or Enhanced Datapath
Under name select the vCenter and the VIRTUAL DISTRIBUTED SWITCH you wish to use
Select your TZ – I selected the Prod Overlay from previous blog
Choose an uplink profile
Select IP Pool for TEP Assignment
Choose your pool – created in earlier blog article
Select your uplinks to VIRTUAL DISTRIBUTED SWITCH Uplinks
Map uplinks defined in the selected NSX-T uplink profile with physical NICs. The number of uplinks that are presented for mapping depends on the uplink profile configuration.
For example, in the upink-1 (active) row, go to the Physical NICs column, click the edit icon, and type in the name of physical NIC to complete mapping it with uplink-1 (active). Likewise, complete mapping for the other uplinks.
Add
Apply
Hit refresh to watch the process complete
Summary:
Adding ESXi hosts into the NSX-T environment is one of the easiest things you can do in all of NSX-T. Very little pre-req work needs to be done. See previous blogs if you need assistance with the pre-reqs.