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Single-system and multisystem management solutions use installed software components based on the LCM release for the deployed solution version.
The following table shows the hardware and software components of the management solution:
Resource | Components |
Compute | Single-system management: 2 to 16 Cisco UCS C220 M6 Servers Multisystem management: 4 to 16 Cisco UCS C220 M6 Servers Note: If the Cisco Nexus 92348GC-X management switch is used with single system or multisystem management, the maximum number of supported Cisco UCS M6 servers is 6 due to limited 10G optical ports on the management switch. |
Storage | Dell Unity XT 480 Hybrid Dell Unity XT 480 Hybrid with optical connectivity |
Network | Cisco Nexus 93108TC-FX3P OOB management switch Cisco Nexus 92348GC-X OOB management switch Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 OOB management aggregation and ToR switch VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS) |
Management Tools | Secure Connect Gateway PowerPath/VE Management Appliance Windows Server Embedded Standard Cisco Intersight Appliance Dell Technologies optional, and ecosystem applications1 |
Virtualization | VMware vSphere with the following features:
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The following table shows the compute specifications for the management solution:
Component | Specifications |
Cisco UCS rack server chassis | Cisco UCS C220 M6 small form factor, 10 HD without CPU, Memory, HD, PCIe drives, PSU |
CPU | 2 x Intel 4310 2.1 GHz, 120 W, 12C, 18.00 MB DDR4 2667 MHz |
Memory | Single: 256 GB using16 x 16 GB DDR4-3200-MHz RDIMM, 1Rx4, 1.2v Multi: 512 GB using 16 x 32 GB DDR4-3200-MHz RDIMM, 2Rx4, 1.2v |
Network | 1 x Cisco UCS VIC 1467 Quad Port 10/25G SFP28 mLOM 1 x Intel X550 Dual Port 10GBase-T LOM |
Boot | 2 x 240 GB M.2 (RAID 1) |
Secure boot | TPM 2.0 (non-TPM server is available) |
Power | 2 x Cisco UCS 1050 W AC PSU |
Internal storage | N/A |
Storage offerings allow for entry-level capacity, expansion, and large-capacity solution configurations. The amount of available storage in a management solution depends on requirements that are associated with the deployed core and optional and ecosystem applications.
The management solution uses iSCSI for the supported Unity XT Hybrid storage arrays to provide block storage to the Cisco UCS servers.
The solution uses one of the following Unity storage arrays:
Unity XT hybrid storage arrays are available in multiple configurations to support growth and expansion. The default storage array configuration consists of eight 2.0 TB data LUNs, while the extra-small system consists of four 2.0 TB LUNs. If capacity exists on the deployed storage array, you can expand the default LUNs or create new LUNs.
The following table shows the available configurations:
Storage array | Raw capacity (TB) | Usable capacity (TB) | Performance (IOPS) | ||
Extra small (single system management only) | 16 | 10 | 14,156 | ||
Small | 27 | 21 | 23,750 | ||
Medium | 37 | 30 | 33,250 | ||
Large | 54 | 45 | 45,499 | ||
Extra large | 72 | 60 | 64,218 | ||
The Unity XT Hybrid configurations include FAST Cache, D@RE, and FAST VP in the base license.
The default pool specifications are based on a two-tiered storage configuration of performance (SAS) and extreme performance (SSD) and drives with an appropriate device count of each to meet the specified capacity options.
Dell Unity OE 5.2 (Kite) and later versions changed the default pool type for hybrid arrays from traditional to dynamic. To understand the concepts and operational changes and for additional information, see the Dell Unity: Dynamic Pools White Paper.
The following tables show details of the components that are common to all Dell Unity storage configurations.
Note: The tables do not include software, support, mounting hardware, or consumables (transceivers, cables, and so on).
Module name | Option name | Quantity |
Starter pack drives | Unity SYSPACK 4X600GB 10K SAS 25X2.5 | 1 |
Fast cache drives | Unity 400 GB FAST CACHE 25X2.5 SSD | 3 |
4 port cards | Copper: Unity 2X4 Port Card 10GBaseT | 1 |
Optical: Unity 2X4 Port Card 25 GbE OPT | 1 |
Module name | Option name | 10 TB | 20 TB | 30 TB | 45 TB | 60 TB |
Additional drives (Extreme Performance)
| D4 400GB SAS FLASH 25X2.5 SSD | 6 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 27 |
Additional drives (Performance) | Unity 1.2 TB 10K SAS 25 X 2.5 drive | 11 | 20 | 28 | 42 | 55 |
SPIO | Copper: Unity 2 x 4 port I/O 10 GB a set | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Optical: N/A | - | - | - | - | - | |
Unity XT HFA 25 x2.5 DAE
| Unity 2U 25 x 2.5 DAE customer-supplied rack (pair of SAS cables included) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
The management solution uses Cisco Nexus management and ToR network switches for network connectivity.
The following server hardware is used for connectivity to management and ToR network switches:
If the Cisco Nexus 92348GC-X is the management switch, the last two mLOM ports connect through the 10G optical to the QSFP 10G breakout ports on the management switch.
The server VIC connects to the ToR switch ports using 100 GbE QSFP 4 x 25 GbE breakout transceivers to support multiple connections per port. The default is two transceivers per switch to connect a minimum of four servers. There are two servers per switch port, using two of four breakout cables per transceiver.
When the Cisco Nexus 92348GC-X is used as the management switch, the switch QSFP ports are provisioned with QSFP-40G- SR4 in a 10G breakout configuration. The default is two transceivers per switch, which provides connectivity to a maximum of six servers. This configuration consumes three of the four breakout ports on the QSFP. The fourth breakout port on each QSFP is for the customer uplinks. Each server uses mLOM ports 2 and 3, which are provisioned with an SFP-10G-SR to connect to the QSFP 10G breakout ports.
The following table shows the network components that the Unity XT storage arrays use:
Storage arrays in management and data networks | Components |
Dell Unity XT hybrid management networks | 2 x 1 G Base-T management ports (one per storage processor) |
Dell Unity XT 480 hybrid data networks | 4 x 10 G Base-T ports from the mezzanine card (two per storage processor) 16 x 10 G Base-T ports from the input and output modules, iom_0 and iom_1 (eight per storage processor) |
Dell Unity XT 480 hybrid w/ optical data networks | 4 X 10/25 Gbps ports from the optical mezzanine card (two per storage processor) IOM slots are not populated. |
Unique naming is essential for autonomous computing, containers, APIs, and custom scripting. Starting from VMware vSphere 7.0, both the management solution and 3-Tier Platforms use a unique set of default VLAN names, values, and examples.
The following figure shows Unity XT with VMware vSphere: