A method to migrate a cluster's hosts and virtual machines from virtual standard switches to a virtual distributed switch includes creating distributed port groups on the virtual distributed switch, where properties of the distributed port groups are automatically replicated to host proxy switches on the hosts. The method further includes configuring the distributed port group with ephemeral binding so port binding of the distributed port group is configurable through a host in the cluster even when an infrastructure virtual machine that manages the cluster is down, determining (or receiving user input indicating) the infrastructure virtual machine is on the host, and issuing a call to the host to migrate (1) the infrastructure virtual machine to the distributed port group and (2) one or more physical network interface cards of the host to the virtual distributed switch.