Each of the variants in Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies supports a specific type of network connectivity. The type of network connectivity determines the solution integration requirements.
- For switchless storage networking, install the server cabling according to the instructions detailed in https://infohub.delltechnologies.com/t/reference-guide-network-integration-and-host-network-configuration-options-1/.
- For sample switch configurations for these network connectivity options, see Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies : Switch Configurations, iWARP Mellanox (RoCE) and Intel E810 (iWARP) Cards and Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies : Switch Configurations, iWARP (Qlogic Cards Only). Note: Enable DCB only on storage (RDMA) adapters connected to the ToR switches that require it.
Note: Manually disable the DCB on the management adapters using theDisable-NetAdapterQos <nicName>command.
Fully converged network connectivity
In the fully converged network configuration, both storage and management/VM traffic use the same set of network adapters. These adapters are configured with Switch-Embedded Teaming (SET). When using RoCE in a fully converged network configuration, you must configure Data Center Bridging (DCB).
Nonconverged network connectivity
In the nonconverged network configuration, storage traffic uses a dedicated set of network adapters either in a SET configuration or as physical adapters. A separate set of network adapters is used for management, VM, and other traffic classes. In this connectivity method, DCB configuration is optional for QLogic (iWARP), but mandatory for Mellanox (RoCE)/Intel E810 (iWarp/RoCE)) adapters.