Before configuring the PowerEdge MX, review the SmartFabric mode requirements, guidelines, and restrictions in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
For more information about physical links between MX9116n FSE and MX7116n FEM, see the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
For a scalable fabric using more than one MX chassis, the chassis must be in a Multi-Chassis Management (MCM) group. Create the MCM group before configuring SmartFabric.
Follow the steps mentioned below to configure and deploy SmartFabric Services using the OME-M console.
Create VLANs
For the example topology used in this guide, VLANs 1611 through 1616 are created for ESXi management, vMotion, vSAN, and the VM data network. The following table provides details for each VLAN.
VLAN ID | VLAN name | Description | Network address | Gateway address |
1611 | ESXi_Mgmt | ESXi host in-band management | 172.16.11.0/24 | 172.16.11.254 |
1612 | vMotion | VM migration | 172.16.12.0/24 | 172.16.12.254 |
1613 | vSAN | Storage | 172.16.13.0/24 | 172.16.13.254 |
1614 | web | VM data network | 172.16.14.0/24 | 172.16.14.254 |
1615 | app | VM data network | 172.16.15.0/24 | 172.16.15.254 |
1616 | db | VM data network | 172.16.16.0/24 | 172.16.16.254 |
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- VLANs
Note: With OME-M 1.20.10 and earlier, the VLANs option is called Networks.
- Define
Create SmartFabric
To create a SmartFabric using the OME-M console, follow the instructions that are mentioned in the SmartFabric Creation section in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
For the example shown in Logical topology, two chassis are in an MCM group. Choose 2x MX9116n in different chassis as design type for this scenario.
The SmartFabric deployment takes about 20 minutes to complete. During this time, the related IOMs reload, the operating mode of the IOMs change to SmartFabric, and the SmartFabric is created.
The general steps to create the SmartFabric in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Devices
- Fabric
- Add Fabric
- Provide Name
- Select the Design Type
Create uplinks
To create an Ethernet - No Spanning Tree uplink from the MX9116n FSEs to the S5232F-ON leafs, see Create Ethernet - No Spanning Tree uplink section in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
After creating uplinks, the SmartFabric creates an uplink object and status of fabric turns green.
The general steps for creating uplinks in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Devices
- Fabric
- Select Fabric
- Add Uplink
When creating the uplinks in OME-M, you must provide a Name, Description, set the Uplink Type as Ethernet - No Spanning Tree, select the ports, and then select the tagged and untagged VLANs.
Create server template
A server template contains parameters that are extracted from a server and allows these parameters to be quickly applied to multiple compute sleds in the chassis. A server template contains all server settings for a specific deployment type including BIOS, iDRAC, RAID, NIC/CNA, and so on. The template is captured from a reference server and can then be deployed to multiple servers simultaneously. Select a reference server before you create the template. The server template also allows an administrator to associate VLANs to compute sleds.
To create a server template, see the Create a server template section in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
The general steps for creating a server template in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Templates
Note: With OME-M 1.20.10 and earlier, the Templates option is called Deploy.
- Create Template
From Reference Device, add the Name and Description. Select the Reference device and Configuration Elements.
Associate network with server template
Created templates must be associated with the networks. In this scenario, VLANs 1611 through 1616 are configured as tagged networks. This in turn applies the settings to other compute sleds when the templates are deployed.
To associate the networks with a template, see the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
The general steps to associate networks with templates in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Templates
Note: With OME-M 1.20.10 and earlier, the Templates section is called Deploy.
- Select server template
- Edit network
- Select tagged and untagged networks
Deploy server template
Deploy server templates to apply the settings and parameters to the compute sleds. After a server template deployment, the interfaces on the switch are updated automatically. SmartFabric configures each interface with untagged and tagged VLANs along with associated QoS settings.
To deploy the server template, follow the instructions in the Deploy a server template section in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
The general steps for deploying a server template in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Templates
Note: With OME-M 1.20.10 and earlier, the Templates option is called Deploy.
- Select server template
- Deploy Template
- Select the compute sleds on which server template must be deployed.
Profiles with Server template deployment
OME-M 1.30.00 adds support for Profiles. OME-M creates and automatically assigns a profile once the server template is deployed successfully. You can edit, assign, unassign, and delete the profile.
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Profiles
This shows Profiles with the Server template deployment.
Create a profile
If the server template is not deployed, OME–M allows the user to create server profiles and apply them to compute sled or slot.
To create a profile, follow the instructions on Create a Profile section in Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
To create a profile in OME-M:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Profiles
- Create profile
Select the server template to attach profile to a template then enter the Name Prefix, Description, and Profile Count of the profile.
Edit a profile
The Edit Profile feature allows user to change the profile name, network options, iDRAC management IP, target attributes, and unassigned virtual identities. User can edit the profile characteristics that are unique to the device or slot.
To edit a profile, follow the instructions in the Edit a profile section in Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
The general steps for editing a profile in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Profiles
- Click Edit > Edit Profile to select the profile to edit.
You can edit the Name Prefix, Description, and other target attributes of the profile.
Assign a profile
The Assign a profile function allows you to assign and deploy a profile on a target device.
To assign a profile, follow the instructions in the Assign a profile section in Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
The general steps for assigning a profile in OME-M are:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Profiles
- Select the profile to assign and then click Assign.
- Select the compute sleds on which the profiles must be deployed.
Unassign a profile
You can unassign a profile that has been assigned to a target server.
To unassign a profile, follow the instructions in the Unassign a profile section in the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Deployment Guide.
To unassign a profile, perform the following steps:
- OME-M console
- Configuration
- Profiles
- Select the profile to unassign, then click Unassign.