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Why your Home Lab needs a non-static port group.

Posted on December 8, 2025 Updated on December 8, 2025

We’ve all been there, during a recovery or migration of a VCSA server we get the error – “Addition or reconfiguration of network adapters attached to non-ephemeral distributed virtual port groups is not supported.” But what does this mean and how do I prepare for this? In the blog post I’ll cover some of the basics and how I setup my home lab.

What does non-ephemeral and ephemeral mean?

• Non-ephemeral or static binding is a port group setting that guarantees a port in the vDS. Think of it like seats at a table and once a seat is assigned it’s always reserved for that assignment.
• Ephemeral or non-static binding will not guarantee a port in the switch. It’s kind of like first come first seated at the table, you leave the table someone else can take your spot.
• Of course you’d want to make sure your ESXi hosts and important VM’s like the VCSA appliance have a “reserved seat at the table” and this is why vDS port groups are static by default.
• See this KB for more information.

What are some of the impacts of not having a non-static port group?

• If you are doing an migration, or recovery of a VM you’ll sometimes end up at the ESXi Host Client.
• At some point during the network discovery process it’ll determine the target network is static bound.
• As an example, restoring a VCSA server if the vDS port group it’s using is static or non-ephemeral binding port group (vDS) then it will surely through the error.

How do I prepare my Home Lab?

• Choice 1 – simply create a vDS Port Group with the Ephemeral – no binding setting that uses the same uplinks as the network I want to communicate on.
• Choice 2 – set your managment vDS Port Group to Ephemeral – no binding
• By doing one of these 2 ahead of time, this will allow the correct network to be chosen.
• Example – The screen shot below is a migration of a VCSA 8 server. When I get to step 4 I’m able to choose a non-static network. Had I not setup this port group ahead of time the migration would have been more difficult.

Want more information?

• Check out this design link that explains how VCF is assgined Static and Non-Static port groups
• Tech UnGlued did a good video around this topic.