ESXi v3.5 u4 weird networking problems HELP!

[Uncut_Diamond]

I just installed an ESXi sever running v3.5 update 4 and added two VMs. The VMs are:

• Server 2003 R2 - MS Terminal Server - 172.16.3.200
• Server 2008 - MS Active Directory - 172.16.2.1
• ESXi server - 172.16.10.3
• Default Gateway - 172.16.1.1
• Other systems on the network - 172.16.3.x and 172.16.2.x

Both of the VM guest servers (2003 and 2008) never lose connection to the internet or the other servers on the LAN. The server 2003 box loses connection from the rest of the LAN sometimes and frequently from the 2008 VM which is on the same ESXi server. The 2008 server never loses connection to anything.

This problem occurrs maybe 4-5 times a day and last for anywhere from 2-10 minutes. I don't have to do anything to resolve it it just starts working again. I have done constant pings to all the boxes involved and can see them stop for a few minutes at a time on the 2003 server but not on the ESXi or the 2008 server. The 2003 server also sometimes loses connection to only the 2008 server but can still talk to everything else. This is driving me nuts, please help! Very similar to this report I found http://communities.vmware.com/thread/178753.

vSwitch setup is as follows:

• vSwitch0
• vmnic0 gig full
• DC VM 172.16.2.1
• Management Network 172.16.10.3

• vSwitch1
• vmnic1 gig full
• MSTS VM 172.16.3.200

THANKS FOR ANY HELP!

 

[lopoetve]

which virtual network card is it set to?

 

[Berg0]

vmware tools installed?

 

[Asgorath]

What physical hardware is this installed on?

 

[geiger]

Were the 2003 servers deployed from a template, and was vmware tools installed on the template?

 

[defuseme2k]

We have automated vcb backpus that occur, which should only snapshot the disk.

However, if you have a snapshot taking place which snapshots memory, the ping will time out and the box will freeze while it is taking the snapshot. I'm sure it is not your problem, but better safe than sorry.