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E2E Deployment and Operations Guide with Switchless Networking (Windows)
About using this guide Deployment Introduction Solution Overview Solution Deployment Network integration overview
Network integration overview
Configuring host networking
Switchless Architecture Additional guidance for all configurations Deploying and Configuring a Host Cluster Persistent Memory for Windows Server HCI Day 1 operations Managing and monitoring clusters with Windows Admin Center Dell OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center Updates and maintenance Secure connect gateway

Network integration overview

Home > Integrated Products > Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies > Guides 22H2 and earlier > E2E Deployment and Operations Guide with Switchless Networking (Windows) > Network integration overview

Network integration overview

  • Dell Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI encompasses various configurations of the following platforms to power the primary compute cluster that is deployed as Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI):

    • AX-640
    • AX-650
    • AX-740xd
    • AX-750
    • AX-6515
    • AX-7525
    • AX-760
    • AX-4510c
    • AX-4520c

    These configurations use a flexible architecture rather than a fixed component design. This flexibility in component choice provides different options for integrating the server nodes as a solution and in the host network configuration.

    Dell Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI can be deployed in two different usage models:

    • The scalable model supports from one to 16 nodes in a cluster, and uses top-of-rack switches for management and storage traffic networking.
    • The switchless storage usage model uses full mesh connections between the cluster nodes for storage traffic and supports from two to four nodes in a cluster.
    Host management and storage networking in each usage model can be implemented in different ways:
    • The scalable model supports fully converged, non-converged physical, and non-converged Switch-Embedded Teaming (SET) storage options.
    • The switchless storage networking model supports single-link full mesh and dual-link full mesh topologies.
    A detailed description of these different topologies across usage models is available in subsequent sections.

    The following figure shows the network integration options available based on Dell Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI:

    Figure 6. Network integration options

    This guide describes the complete list of integration options for the switchless storage usage model, host operating system configuration options, and provides PowerShell commands to complete the host operating system network configuration. It includes adapter-specific configuration instructions that are related to RoCEv2 or iWARP configurations in the host operating system.

    This guide provides an overview of the topology and deployment instructions for the switchless integration option.