harvester · wheatdog · Nov 12, 2025 · Nov 21, 2025 · Nov 25, 2025 · Nov 25, 2025
diff --git a/docs/vm/nic-hotplug.md b/docs/vm/nic-hotplug.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+---
+sidebar_position: 13
+sidebar_label: NIC Hotplug
+title: "NIC Hotplug"
+keywords:
+  - Harvester
+  - harvester
+  - Virtual Machine
+  - virtual machine
+  - Hotplug
+  - NIC
+description: Hotplug and hotunplug network interfaces to a running VM.
+---
+
+<head>
+  <link rel="canonical" href="https://docs.harvesterhci.io/v1.6/vm/nic-hotplug"/>
+</head>
+
+_Available as of v1.7.0_
+
+Harvester supports hotplugging and hotunplugging of network interface controllers (NICs) for [live-migratable](./live-migration.md#live-migratable-virtual-machines) virtual machines. This feature allows you to add and remove network interfaces from a running virtual machine without requiring a reboot.
+
+:::note
+
+You cannot perform NIC hotplugging on virtual machines created in clusters running Harvester versions earlier than v1.7.0 _if the network interface's MAC address was not explicitly configured_. To enable this feature, you must restart those virtual machines. Restarting allows the system to automatically save the observed MAC addresses to the virtual machine's configuration.
+
+In addition, virtual machines created using the [Harvester Node Driver](../rancher/node/node-driver.md) and the [Harvester Terraform Provider](terraform/terraform-provider.md) _do not support_ NIC hotplugging and hotunplugging.
+
+:::
+
+## Hotplug NICs to a Running VM
+
+1. On the Harvester UI, go to the **Virtual Machines** screen.
+
+1. Locate the target virtual machine, and then select **⋮** > **Hotplug Network Interface**.
+
+    ![Hotplug Network Interface](/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotplug-network-interface.png)
+
+1. Specify a name for the network interface and select a virtual machine network.
+
+    You can select a [VLAN network](../../networking/harvester-network.md#vlan-network), an [untagged network](../../networking/harvester-network.md#untagged-network), or a [VLAN trunk network](../../networking/harvester-network.md#vlan-trunk-network).
+
+1. Click **Apply**.
+
+Harvester [migrates the virtual machine](./live-migration.md#prerequisites) and the specified interface is connected through bridge binding.
+
+For information about limitations to the number of hotplugged interfaces, see [Virtio Limitations](https://kubevirt.io/user-guide/network/hotplug_interfaces/#virtio-limitations) in the KubeVirt documentation.
+
+## Hotunplug NICs from a Running VM
+
+:::info important
+
+You can perform this action only when the following conditions are met:
+
+- The virtual machine has at least two network interfaces. You cannot hotunplug the single remaining interface.
+- The target interface is connected through bridge binding.
+
+:::
+
+1. On the Harvester UI, go to the **Virtual Machines** screen.
+
+1. Click the name of the target virtual machine, and then go to the **Networks** tab.
+
+    ![Hotunplug Network Interface](/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotunplug-network-interface.png)
+
+1. Locate the target interface, and then click **Detach Network Interface**.
+
+Harvester [migrates the virtual machine](./live-migration.md#prerequisites) and detaches the interface.
diff --git a/static/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotplug-network-interface.png b/static/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotplug-network-interface.png
diff --git a/static/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotunplug-network-interface.png b/static/img/v1.7/nic-hotplug/hotunplug-network-interface.png