Question : vSphere NIC numbering

When adding NICs to a ESX/ESXi host, NICs are assigned numbers that, in past vesrions, were only able to be changed by physically removing NICs and replacing them in the order that you want them numbered.  Is there a way to change the number that a NIC is assigned without physically removing and replacing the NICs (in vSphere 4)?

Answer : vSphere NIC numbering

It pretty much assigns them in whatever order it finds them - you can see this article (http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1002315) for a rundown on the process. Now if you are really dead set on changing them it can be done. You would have to:

1. go into the console (tech support mode on ESXi)
2. cd /etc/vmware
3. backup your esx.conf - eg. cp esx.conf esx.conf.bak
4. edit esx.conf and look for your vmnic entries.. will look something like
     /device/000:001:00.0/vmkname = "vmnic0"
     /device/000:001:00.1/vmkname = "vmnic1"
     /device/000:002:00.0/vmkname = "vmnic2"
     /device/000:002:00.1/vmkname = "vmnic3"
5, Order as desired by editing the string vmnicX
5. Save the edited file and reboot

You may have to readjust your nic bindings in networking when done

Good Luck