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OMNI Bulk Configuration Spreadsheet Part 1 of 2
Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:43:35 -0000
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Today we will cover the use of the new Bulk Configuration spreadsheet offered in OMNI 2.1. The Bulk Configuration spreadsheet will be used to create networks on the Fabric. Refer to the OMNI User Guide on the Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration for VMware vCenter website for more details on other configuration options with the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet.
Download the SmartFabric bulk configuration template
OMNI 2.1 adds the SmartFabric bulk configuration feature. This feature allows the entry of networks, IP addresses, server interface profiles, and eBGP information into a template in Microsoft Excel (.xls) format that is downloaded from OMNI. After entering the information, the template is uploaded into OMNI and all values are applied in one step. This significantly reduces the number of configuration steps required and saves time.
NOTE: The use of the bulk configuration template is optional. The same information can be entered manually using the OMNI UI as shown in the OpenManage Network Integration for SmartFabric Services User Guide, Release 2.1. The guide is available on the Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration for VMware vCenter website.
To download the template, perform the following steps:
- In the OMNI UI, select the SmartFabric instance in the left navigation panel.
- In the right navigation panel, select Bulk Configuration and click DOWNLOAD to download the template.
Configure networks
The first section will cover the addition of two different network types.
- General Purpose Network – Layer 2 (L2) or Layer 3 (L3) network that spans all racks in the Fabric.
- Multi-Rack L3 VLAN – L3 network that spans several racks, with a unique IP subnet per rack.
The General Purpose Network is the preferred network type in SmartFabric services. It can be configured as an L2 or L3 network. However, in some situations the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN is a better option. Refer to the Dell EMC Networking SmartFabric Services Deployment for VMware NSX-T deployment guide for more information on the specific use case for the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN.
The General Purpose network used for this example has the values shown in the table below.
Network Type | L2/L3 | NetworkID | Network Name | Description | VLAN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Purpose | L2 | network-app01 | network-app01 | Application-01 | 100 |
- Enter the specific network information into the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet on the General Purpose Network tab.
- Enter the information for our next network, which will be a Multi-Rack L3 VLAN. The values used for this example are listed in the table below.
Network Type NetworkID Network Name Description VLAN Rack-Name IP Address List Prefix Gateway IP Address IP Helper Address MultiRack-L3 VLAN network-db01 network-db01 Database-01 200 Rack-01 172.20.201.252,
172.20.201.25324 172.20.201.254 172.19.11.50 network-db01 network-db01 Database-01 200 Rack-02 172.20.201.252,
172.20.201.25324 172.20.201.254 172.19.11.50
- Enter the specific network information into the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet on the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN tab.
- Once all of the information has been put into the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet, save the spreadsheet.
- Navigate back to the OMNI User Interface and upload the saved spreadsheet.
- Click Validate to validate the spreadsheet prior to Fabric configuration.
- Click Apply.
- Click Complete.
Validation of network creation
The network creation can be validated in two ways, through the OMNI UI or through the switch CLI.
Validate networks in the OMNI UI
- To validate the networks through the OMNI UI, navigate to the OMNI Network tab.
- Expand the General Purpose Networks or Multi-Rack L3 VLAN tab.
The Application01 network that was specified in the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet can be seen below in the General Purpose Networks section of the OMNI UI.
The Database01 network that was specified in the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet can also be seen below in the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN section of the OMNI UI.
Validate networks in the switch CLI
Optionally, the networks may be validated using the switch CLI.
Navigate to the CLI of switches in the Fabric.
To verify the General Purpose networks, run the show smartfabric networks and show virtual-network vlan command. The output below is for one leaf in the Fabric. The output will be similar on the other leaf switches in the Fabric. The network items that were created using the Bulk Configuration spreadsheet can be seen below highlighted in yellow.
S5248F-Leaf1A# show smartfabric networks Name Type QosPriority NetworkId Vlan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- network-app01 VXLAN IRON network-app01 100 vSAN Network 1813 VXLAN IRON network-1813 1813 uplink-2711_2711 MULTIRACK_L3_VLAN IRON uplink-2711_2711 2711 Client_Management_Network VXLAN IRON Client_Management_Network 4091 network-db01 MULTIRACK_L3_VLAN IRON network-db01 200 -----------------------Output Truncated---------------------------S5248F-Leaf1A# show virtual-network vlan Vlan Virtual Network Interface ------------------------------------------------- 100 100 port-channel1000 1811 1811 port-channel1000, ethernet1/1/1, ethernet1/1/2, ethernet1/1/3 1812 1812 port-channel1000, ethernet1/1/1, ethernet1/1/2, ethernet1/1/3 1813 1813 port-channel1000, ethernet1/1/1, ethernet1/1/2, ethernet1/1/3 3939 3939 port-channel1000, ethernet1/1/1, ethernet1/1/2, ethernet1/1/3 4091 4091 port-channel1000 S5248F-Leaf1A#
To verify the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN networks, run the show smartfabric networks and show vlan command. The output below is for one leaf in the Fabric. The output will be similar on the other leaf switches in the Fabric.
S5248F-Leaf1A# show smartfabric networks Name Type QosPriority NetworkId Vlan -------------------------------------------------------------------- network-app01 VXLAN IRON network-app01 100 vSAN Network 1813 VXLAN IRON network-1813 1813 uplink-2711_2711 MULTIRACK_L3_VLAN IRON uplink-2711_2711 2711 Client_Management_Network VXLAN IRON Client_Management_Network 4091 network-db01 MULTIRACK_L3_VLAN IRON network-db01 200 -----------------------Output Truncated---------------------------
Note: The output of the show vlan command will not reflect the Multi-Rack L3 VLAN, if the networks are not applied to an interface through the server interface profiles in OMNI.
S5248F-Leaf1B# show vlan Codes: * - Default VLAN, M - Management VLAN, R - Remote Port Mirroring VLANs, @ - Attached to Virtual Network, P - Primary, C - Community, I - Isolated Q: A - Access (Untagged), T - Tagged NUM Status Description Q Ports 200 Active database-01 T Eth1/1/2 2500 Active T Eth1/1/1-1/1/3 T Po1000 2712 Active vlan2712 T Eth1/1/1-1/1/3 2713 Active T Eth1/1/1-1/1/3 T Po1000 4000 Active vlan4000 T Po96-97,1000 4001 Active vlan4001 A Po96 4002 Active vlan4002 A Po97 * 4089 Active vlan4089 A Po1000 4090 Active vlan4090 T Po1000 4094 Active T Po1000 S5248F-Leaf1B#