Changing NIC Interface Descriptions in Windows

networkingwindows-server-2016

I'm creating a new Virtual Switch under Hyper-V on a Windows 2016 Server.

When I go to create a Virtual Switch under Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016, I have to select the NIC port that it will be using. Unfortunately, Hyper-V shows you the "Interface Description" in the drop-down for which NIC to use rather than the "Name". As you can see below, it's rather confusing as the NIC "Name" numbers (which match the port numbers on the back of the server) do not match the number that's auto-assigned in the "Interface Description" field.

I'd like to change the InterfaceDescription setting so that it aligns with the NIC port # so that the NIC I'm selecting in the drop-down for Virtual Switch creation matches up with the NIC number.

Looking at the registry settings, the description for all (4) of the NICs is just "Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet". It looks like Windows is nonsensically attaching a #2, #3 & #4 to the end of the Description names.

Any way to rename the InterfaceDescription for each NIC so that NIC1 matches up with "Broadcom #1", NIC2 matches up with "Broadcom #2" etc?

Below are the results of a PowerShell get-NetAdapter command.

PS C:\Users\Me> get-netadapter

Name — InterfaceDescription

—- ——————–

NIC4 — Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet #3

NIC3 — Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet #4

NIC2 — Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet

NIC1 — Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet #2

Best Answer

InterfaceDescription does not appear to support the set method.

Get-NetAdapter | Get-Member InterfaceDescription

TypeName: Microsoft.Management.Infrastructure.CimInstance#ROOT/StandardCimv2/MSFT_NetAdapter

Name                 MemberType Definition
----                 ---------- ----------
InterfaceDescription Property   string InterfaceDescription {get;}
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