You must configure the NSX host overlay network on the SmartFabric before you deploy the management domain. During VCF deployment, every VxRail node becomes an NSX host transport node. Each NSX host transport node is assigned a TEP IP address on the NSX host overlay network.

NSX host transport nodes get their TEP IP address from DHCP or an IP pool. If you use DHCP, as in this example, specify the IP address of the DHCP server as an IP helper address in SFS.

Create m01 host overlay network - single rack topology

If you have a single rack SmartFabric topology (with a maximum of two leafs in the SmartFabric), create the NSX host overlay network as a Layer 3 VLAN. The network is created using the SFS UI or OMNI under Network > Networks > VLAN Networks.

Using the values in ‎Table 1 and ‎Figure 2, the m01-host-overlay network for a single rack topology is configured as shown in the figure below.

Figure 4.     m01 NSX host overlay network configuration in a single rack topology

Create m01 host overlay network - multirack topology

If you have a multirack SmartFabric topology (more than two leafs in the SmartFabric), create the NSX host overlay network as a Multirack Layer 3 VLAN. This allows you to put hosts that are in the same domain in different racks. The network is created using the SFS UI or OMNI under Network > Networks > Multirack L3 VLAN.

Using the values in ‎Table 1 and ‎Figure 2, the m01-host-overlay network for a multirack topology is configured as shown in the figure below.

Figure 5.     m01 NSX host overlay network configuration in a multirack topology

NSX edge networks

The NSX edge overlay and uplink networks must be configured before the NSX edges are deployed.

All NSX edge networks are created in SFS as Layer 3 VLANs (not multirack VLANs), even in multirack topologies. All NSX edge VMs in the same edge cluster must remain in the same rack because they are Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peers with the leaf switch pair in the rack. In multirack deployments, ensure the NSX edge VMs remain in the same rack by creating VM/host rules in vCenter.

Create m01 edge overlay network

NSX edge transport nodes have static TEP IP addresses, so no DHCP helper address is specified in SFS. The edge overlay network is created using the SFS UI or OMNI under Network > Networks > VLAN Networks.

Using the values in ‎Table 1 and ‎Figure 2, the m01-edge-overlay network is configured as shown:

Figure 6.     m01 NSX edge overlay network configuration

Create the m01 edge uplink networks

NSX edge uplink networks are used for BGP peering with the SmartFabric leafs in the rack containing the NSX edges. No gateway is configured. To create the networks using the SFS UI or OMNI, click Network > Networks > VLAN Networks.

Using the values in ‎Table 1 and ‎Figure 2, the m01 edge uplink networks are configured as shown:

Figure 7.     m01 NSX edge uplink 1 network configuration

Figure 8.     m01 NSX edge uplink 2 network configuration