SmartFabric Services for OpenManage Network Integration User Guide Release 1.2
SmartFabric vCenter
Enterprises are adopting the power of automation to transform their IT operations, and enable a more agile and responsive infrastructure in their data center. Network operators must leverage the power of automation within and across their departmental functions, delivering integrated solutions which cater to cloud-based consumption models.
SmartFabric Services
SmartFabric Services (SFS) are an automation framework that is built into the Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10, to integrate converged and hyperconverged infrastructure systems. These solutions deliver autonomous fabric deployment, expansion, and life cycle management.
SFS enables converged infrastructure (CI) and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) for system administrators to deploy and operate the network fabric for the infrastructure solution as an extension of the solution being deployed. This integrated network fabric is built using industry-standard protocols adhering to the best practice recommendations for that solution, and is interoperable with customers existing data center networks.
OpenManage Network Integration
Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration (OMNI) is a management application that is designed to complement SFS, providing a web-based GUI for operating one or more automated network fabrics deployed using SFS (called SmartFabric instances).
OMNI is delivered as a virtual appliance which can be deployed as:
- A stand-alone virtual machine enabling a web portal to manage one or more SmartFabric Instances
- Deployed as an external plug-in for VMware vCenter. OMNI when deployed as a plug-in for VMware vCenter enables:
- Enables zero-touch automation of physical underlay network fabric running SFS corresponding to changes in the virtual network layer
- Extends vCenter Host Network Inventory data to include physical switch connectivity details for easy monitoring and troubleshooting
- Enables single pane of management for one or more SmartFabric instances through the OMNI portal pages that are embedded within vCenter
VxRail SFS integration solution
Dell EMC VxRail integrated with SFS automates and simplifies networking for VxRail hyperconverged infrastructure deployments and ongoing network operations. As hyperconverged domains scale, the network fabric becomes the critical piece of successful deployment. VxRail integration with SFS allows customers to deploy network fabrics for VxRail clusters as an extension of the VxRail clusters without extensive networking knowledge. The network fabric is automatically configured for the VxRail nodes as the operators deploy their VxRail clusters.
Key benefits
- Faster time to production
- Plug and play fabric formation for VxRail.
- VxRail Manager automatically creates fabric policies for VxRail nodes.
- SmartFabric to automate all fabric functions.
- Integrated life cycle
- Fabric creation, expansion, and maintenance follow the VxRail application model.
- HCI fabric operations are fully managed through VxRail Manager or vCenter.
- Better infrastructure visibility
- Tight integration between VxRail appliance and Dell EMC ON-Series PowerSwitches.
- Fabric connectivity extended to PowerSwitches required for VxRail solutions only.
- Improved SLA
- Fully validated software stack recommendation.
- Protection from human-error due to predictable and repeatable HCI fabric experience.
- Enhanced support experience
- World-class Dell EMC HCI and fabric services.
- Fabric that is integrated into VxRail services and support experience.
Required components
- Dell EMC PowerSwitches supporting SmartFabric Services
- Leaf/ToR switches: 10 GbE—S4112F-ON, S4112T-ON, S4128F-ON, S4128T-ON, S4148F-ON, S4148T-ON; 25 GbE—S5212F-ON, S5224F-ON, S5248F-ON, and S5296F-ON
- Spine switches: S5232F-ON and Z9264F-ON
- Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10 for PowerSwitch models.
- Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration (OMNI).
- Dell EMC VxRail hyperconverged nodes when deploying VxRail integrated solution.
- VMware vCenter internal to VxRail cluster or existing vCenter in customer environment.
See the Dell EMC VxRail Support Matrix for the latest software releases that support the VxRail SmartFabric Service integrated solution.
More resources
List of additional resources you may need:
| Path and Links to Documents | Description |
|---|---|
| Dell EMC Networking OS10 Info Hub > OS10 User Guides > OS10 Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10 User Guide, 10.5.0 | This document contains information to help you understand, configure, and troubleshoot your OS10 networking operating system. |
| Dell Technologies VxRail Networking Infohub > Guides | This page contains reference documents to configuration, deployment, and other guides for VxRail networking solutions. |
| Support Matrix > VxRail and SmartFabric Services Validated Versions | This page contains the various support matrices of SmartFabric OS10, VxRail, OMNI, and features. |
| Dell EMC Networking SmartFabric Services Deployment with VxRail | This guide demonstrates the deployment of a leaf-spine fabric using SmartFabric Services and shows how SmartFabric Services simplifies the deployment of a new VxRail cluster. |
| Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration for VMware vCenter > Manuals and documents | This page lists the OMNI reference manuals from previous versions. |
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