Dell VxRail Network Planning Guide

Perform initialization to create a VxRail cluster

Dell Support performs the steps in this section.

1. Before coming on-site, Dell Support contacts you to capture and record the information that is described in Appendix A: VxRail Network Configuration Table and walk through Appendix C: VxRail Cluster Setup Checklist.
2. If your planned VxRail deployment requires a witness at a remote data center location, the witness virtual appliance is deployed.
3. If your deployment includes Dell Ethernet switches and professional services to install and configure the switches to support the VxRail cluster, that activity is performed before VxRail deployment activities.
4. If your planned deployment is a dynamic cluster, complete the necessary preparations for the selected external storage resource.
5. Install the VxRail nodes in a rack or multiple racks in the data center. If Dell Support is not installing the switches, install the network switches supporting the VxRail cluster into the same racks for ease of management.
6. Attach Ethernet cables between the ports on the VxRail nodes and switch ports that are configured to support VxRail network traffic.
7. Power on the initial nodes to form the initial VxRail cluster. Do not turn on any other VxRail nodes until you have completed the formation of the VxRail cluster with the first three or four nodes.
8. Connect a workstation or laptop or jump host that is configured for VxRail initialization to access the VxRail external management network on your selected VLAN. Plug into the ToR switch or logically reach the VxRail external management network from elsewhere on your network.
9. Open a browser to the VxRail IP address to begin the VxRail initialization. This is either the default IP address that is assigned to VxRail Manager at the factory or the permanent IP address set by Dell services.
10. Dell Support populates the input screens on the menu with the data that is collected from the customer during the planning and design process.
11. VxRail performs the verification process using the information input into the menus.
12. After validation is successful, the initialization process begins to build a new VxRail cluster. The new permanent IP address for VxRail Manager is displayed.
13. If the permanent IP address was set on VxRail Manager before initialization, the browser works through the process.
    • If you configured the laptop to enable connectivity to both the temporary VxRail IP address and the new permanent IP address, the browser makes the switch automatically. If not, you must manually change the IP settings on your laptop to be on the same subnet as the new VxRail IP address.
    • If your workstation/laptop cannot connect to the new IP address that you configured, you receive a message to fix your network and try again. If you are unable to connect to the new IP address after 20 minutes, VxRail reverts to its unconfigured state, and you must reenter your configuration at the temporary VxRail IP address.
    • After the build process starts, if you close your browser, you must browse to the new, permanent VxRail IP address.
14. Progress is shown as the VxRail cluster is built. The process takes about 25-40 minutes.
15. When VxRail initialization is complete and a new VxRail cluster is built, click Manage VxRail to continue to VxRail management. Bookmark this IP address.
16. Connect to VxRail Manager using either the VxRail Manager IP address (Row 15) or the FQDN (Row 14) that you configured on your DNS server. This leads you to the VMware vCenter Server instance.