I am using VMWare Server 2 so I do not have any of the advanced options. I am not configuring my switchport to be a trunk. It should work as an access port. I forgot to include this command in my original post for the switchport "switchport mode access"
Since my host and the Cisco switch can ping each other, I do not think it is a speed/duplex issue.
I have my switchport configured according to the KB 1004127 article you attached, but I am not using ESXi.