Dell PowerFlex Appliance with PowerFlex 3.x Administration Guide

Full network automation: Deploying a VMware ESXi PowerFlex hyperconverged node or PowerFlex compute-only node

This procedure describes how to deploy a PowerFlex compute-only node with VMware ESXi using full network automation option with PowerFlex Manager. The full network automation option will configure changes to physical switches.

1. Log in to PowerFlex Manager.
2. Add OS image to the repository.
   NOTE:Skip this step if the OS image is already added to the repository.
   1. Click Settings from menu bar and click Compliance and OS Repositories.
   2. Click the OS Repositories tab.
   3. Click Add to open Add OS Image Repository wizard and enter the following:

      OS image information	Details
      Repository name	Enter <Enter ESXi image name>.
      Image type	Select ESXi.
      Source path and filename	Enter http://<server IP>/<folder>/<image name>.iso.
      Username	Enter <username>.
      Password	Enter <password>.

   4. Validate the path is working correctly, click Test Connection.
   5. Click Add to upload the ISO image.
3. Click Templates.
4. Click Add a Template to open the Add a Template page.
   1. Enter the Template Name.
   2. Click Next.
   3. Under Create Template, enter the following details:

      Clone template	Details
      Template name	Enter <Template name>. Example name: HCI or CO VMware ESXi Compute Template.
      Template Category	Select Create New Category.. Enter a name in the New Category Name box.
      Template Description	Enter <Template Description> . Example: compute-only or HC nodes with VMware ESXi
      Firmware and software compliance	Select the latest Intelligent Catalog version from the list.
      Who should have access to the service deployed from this template?	Select from list who should have access to this service template.

5. Click Save.
6. Click Add Node to open the Node wizard and select Full Network Automation.
   1. Click Continue.
   2. Enter the following details:

      Node	Details
      Component name	Enter <ESXi>.
      Number of instances	Enter <Number>.
      Related components	Select Associate Selected. Check checkbox for PowerFlex cluster.

   3. Click Continue.
   4. Under OS Settings, enter the following settings:

      Description	Values
      Host name selection	Select <appropriate host name selection>.
      Host name template (auto-generated)	Enter <host name template >
      OS image	Select < ESXi Image>.
      OS credentials	Select <OS Credential Name>.
      NTP server	Enter <NTP server IP address> NOTE: Multiple NTP server IP addresses can be entered by using commas.
      Use node for Dell PowerFlex	Click checkbox.
      PowerFlex role	Select Compute Only or Hyperconverged.
      Enable compression	Select appropriate.
      Enable encryption	Select appropriate.
      Enable replication	Select appropriate.
      Switch port configuration	Select Port Channel (LACP enabled).
      Teaming and bonding configuration	Select Route Based on IP hash.

   5. Under SVM OS Settings, enter the details within the following table:

      SVM OS settings	Details
      Host name selection	Select < appropriate host name selection >.
      Host name template	Enter < host name template >.
      OS credential	Select < OS credentials >.
      NTP server	Enter < IP address >.

   6. Under Hardware Settings, enter the details within the following table:

      Hardware settings	Details
      Target boot device	Select Local Flash Storage for Dell PowerFlex.
      Node pool	Select < pool name >.

   7. Under BIOS Settings, enter the details within the following table:

      BIOS settings	Details
      System profile	Select Performance.
      User accessible USB ports	Select All ports on.
      Number of cores per processor	Select All.
      Virtualization technology	Select Enabled.
      Logical processor	Select Enabled.
      Execute disable	Select Enabled.
      Node interleaving	Select Enabled.

   8. Under Network Settings, follow the steps below to add interfaces.
      If deploying a multi-VLAN or multi-subnet configuration:

      1. For a multi-subnet or multi-VLAN configuration, select Multi-Network Selection checkbox to configure more than one network per one or more of the network types (including replication).
      2. For a multi-replication configuration, update the Number of Replication Networks Per Node field box if replication checkbox is selected. The default is two networks per PowerFlex node. More than two PowerFlex nodes can be created in multiples of two.
         NOTE:If the Number of Replication Networks Per Node is not visible, the Enable replication checkbox is not selected under OS Settings.
   9. Click Add New Interface to create the first interface.
   10. Under Interface 1, enter the following details:

       Network settings	Details
       Port Layout	Select Two port 25 gigabit.

   11. Under Port 1, click Choose Networks to open Interface 1 Port 1 Network Configuration window.
   12. Select the checkboxes for the following networks:
       If deploying a multi-VLAN or multi-subnet configuration:

       1. For a multi-subnet or multi-VLAN configuration, select Multi-Network Selection checkbox to configure more than one network per one or more of the network types (including replication).
       2. For a multi-replication configuration, update the Number of Replication Networks Per Node field box if replication checkbox is selected. The default is two networks per PowerFlex node. More than two PowerFlex nodes can be created in multiples of two.
          NOTE:If the Number of Replication Networks Per Node is not visible, the Enable replication checkbox is not selected under OS Settings, manually add all the networks (including same-VLAN or multi-VLAN networks) that belong to the appropriate interface.

       Selected networks	Description
       powerflex-esx-mgmt-<vlanid>	Hypervisor management
       powerflex-vmotion-<vlanid>	Hypervisor migration
       Powerflex-mgmt-<vlanid >	Powerflex management
       pxe-<vlanid>	PXE network

   13. Click >> to add the selected networks to the right column and click Save.
   14. Under Port 2, click Choose Networks to open Interface 1 Port 2 Network Configuration window.
   15. Select the checkboxes for the following networks:

       Selected networks	Description
       powerflex-data1-<vlanid >	Powerflex-Data1
       powerflex-data2-<vlanid >	Powerflex-Data2
       powerflex-data3-<vlanid > (if required)	Powerflex-Data3
       powerflex-data4-<vlanid > (if required)	Powerflex-Data4

   16. Click >> to add the selected networks to the right column and click Save.
   17. Click Add New Interface to create the second interface.
   18. Under Interface 2, enter the following details:

       Hardware settings	Details
       Port Layout	Select Two port 25 gigabit.

   19. Under Port 2, click Choose Networks to open Interface 2 Port 1 Network Configuration window.
   20. Select the checkboxes for the following networks:

       Selected networks	Description
       powerflex-esx-mgmt-<vlanid>	Hypervisor management
       powerflex-vmotion-<vlanid>	Hypervisor migration
       Powerflex-mgmt-<vlanid >	Powerflex management
       pxe-<vlanid>	PXE network

   21. Click >> to add the selected networks to the right column and click Save.
   22. Under Port 2, click Choose Networks to open Interface 2 Port 2 Network Configuration window.
   23. Select the checkboxes for the following networks:

       Selected networks	Description
       powerflex-data1-<vlanid >	Powerflex-Data1
       powerflex-data2-<vlanid >	Powerflex-Data2
       powerflex-data3-<vlanid > (if required)	Powerflex-Data3
       powerflex-data4-<vlanid > (if required)	Powerflex-Data4

   24. Click >> to add the selected networks to the right column and click Save.
   25. In Static Routes, select Enabled.
   26. Click Validate Settings, if there are any errors, correct them and click Close.
   27. Click Save to complete the clone creation.
7. Create the clusters.
   1. Click Add Cluster to create PowerFlex Cluster.
   2. Click Component Name > PowerFlex Cluster.
   3. Select Associate All or Associate Selected.
   4. Click Continue.
   5. Under PowerFlex Settings, enter the details within the following table:

      PowerFlex settings	Details
      Target PowerFlex Gateway	Select < New Target PowerFlex Gateway VM >.
      Protection domain name	Select Auto generate protection domain name (Recommended)
      Protection domain name template	Leave as default: PD-${num}
      Acceleration pool name NOTE:Only available if compression is enabled.	Select Auto generate acceleration pool name (Recommended).
      Acceleration pool name template NOTE:Only available if compression is enabled.	Leave as default: Site-AP-${num}
      Storage pool name	Select Auto generate storage pool name (Recommended)
      Number of storage pools	Select < number >.
      Storage pool name template	Leave as default.
      Granularity NOTE:Only available if compression is enabled.	Select < Fine or Medium >.
      Enable fault sets	Check box if fault sets need to be enabled. NOTE:If the PowerFlex configuration includes fault sets, contact Dell Technologies Support for assistance. Do not go to the procedure until you have received guidance from a support representative.

   6. Click Save.
8. Create VMware Cluster.
   1. Click Add Cluster to create VMware Cluster.
   2. Select VMware Cluster for the component name.
   3. Select Associated All option.
   4. Click Continue
   5. Under Cluster Settings, enter the details within the following table:

      Cluster settings	Details
      Target virtual machine manager	Select < vCenter Server hostname >.
      Data center name	Select < Create New Datacenter or an existing Datacenter >.
      New datacenter name	Select < Datacenter Name >.
      Cluster name	Select < Create New Cluster or an existing Cluster >.
      New cluster name	Select Cluster Name.
      Cluster HA enabled	Select checkbox to enable.
      Cluster DRS enabled	Select checkbox to enable.

   6. Under vSphere VDS Settings, click Configure VDS Settings button to open Configure VDS Settings wizard.
   7. Select Existing port group or create new port group.
   8. Assuming deployment is standard, select Auto Create All Port Groups.
   9. Click Next to VDS Naming page.
   10. Enter the details within the following table:

       VDS	Label	Details
       VDS1	VDS Name	Enter <VDS Name>
       VDS2	VDS Name	Enter <VDS Name>

9. Click Next to Port Group Select page.
   NOTE:For a multi-VLAN or multi-subnet configuration only, if deploying PowerFlex nodes with the multi-subnet, a single port group is only required. Assign the same defined port group associated for each network with same VLAN ID. This forces the PowerFlex Manager to only deploy a single port group for each network type. For example, flex-mgmt-105 (192.168.105.1/27) network should be assigned to flex-mgmt-105 port group. flex-mgmt-105-b (192.168.205.1/27) network should be assigned to flex-mgmt-105 port group.

   If deploying PowerFlex nodes with a multi-VLAN network, a separate port group is required for each network type that has more than one network. Assign the correct port group to the correct network. For example, flex-mgmt-105 (192.168.105.1/27) network should be assigned to flex-mgmt-105 port group. flex-mgmt-205 (192.168.205.1/27) network should be assigned to flex-mgmt-205 port group.

10. Validate the port group names that was automatically generated.
11. Click Next to continue to the Port Group Select page.
12. Validate the appropriate port group are created on the correct VDS.
13. In Advanced Networking Selection, select the appropriate MTU values for the port group <esxi-mgmt> and <vmotion> and click Next.
14. Click Finish.
15. In the Confirm pop-up, click Yes.
16. Click Save.
17. In the Template Information box, click Publish Template.
18. In the pop-up, click Yes.
19. On the Compute Template page, under Template Information, click Deploy and select the following:

    Deploy settings	Details
    Select Published template	Select <Name of Template>.
    Service name	Enter < Service Name >.
    Service description	Enter < Service Description >.
    Firmware and software compliance	Select the latest Intelligent Catalog version from list.
    Who should have access to the service deployed from this template	Select from list who should have access to this service template.

20. Click Next to Deployment setting page.
    NOTE:For a multi-VLAN or multi-subnet configuration, it is required to manually enter the IP address of one or more network types ( Hypervisor management, Hypervisor migration, PowerFlex management, PowerFlex replication) for each PowerFlex hyperconverged node. This is required since PowerFlex Manager is not aware of the rack or row location of the hypervisor host. Each rack or row have a different subnet for one or more of the network types.
21. Validate settings and click Next to Schedule Deployment page.
22. Leave default to Deploy Now.
23. Click Next.
24. Verify the summary page and click Finish.