Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure is about to reach its first six months of existence, and we’re celebrating by incorporating a plethora of enhancements across the entire platform.

First and foremost, Dell has become the first Microsoft partner to enable 23H2 for new deployments. We can ship new platforms based on Dell multicloud (MC) nodes that include a factory staging of Azure Stack HCI 23H2. Dell Services will assist customers on the initial deployment experience,

Azure Stack HCI 23H2 (2311.2 release) comes full of rich features, including:

• Simplification in infrastructure deployment as key Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) components are created as part of the Azure Stack HCI deployment
• Enhancement in Azure Arc-enabled on-premises resources like virtualized desktops, server VMs, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) hybrid workload clusters, as they are now automatically Azure-Arc enabled
• Azure Stack HCI cloud-based deployment
• Management of updates across all Azure Stack HCI clusters using Azure Update Manager
• New capabilities and improvements to the core Azure Stack HCI stack – hypervisor, storage, security, and virtual machines

Check out these features in greater depth in this blog, Dell Technologies First to Deliver Azure Stack HCI 23H2.

But there is much more to this March release than 23H2, ranging from new cluster node expansion options to improvements in Dell APEX Cloud Platform foundation software for Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2 operations to serviceability and platform monitoring enhancements.

Cluster expansion

Today, all cluster expansion operations are led by Dell Support and Services. Starting with this APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure March release, there are two new operations supported:

• Upgrading a single node deployment to a 2-node cluster

Through a Dell Services-led engagement, it is possible to expand a single node deployment to a 2-node switched or switchless cluster. 

Figure 1. Single node to 2-node cluster Azure Stack HCI expansion

• Converting a 2-node switchless storage network cluster to a 2-node switched storage network cluster

Dell Services converts from a switchless storage network topology to a switched one. From there – 2-node switched – we can grow our Azure Stack HCI deployment up to 16 nodes.

Figure 2. 2-node switchless to 2-node switched cluster conversion

Dell APEX Cloud Platform Foundation software improvements

Numerous improvements in the platform will affect distinct solutions’ areas. As of today, platform deployment operations are done through a white glove experience led by Dell Services teams, but we are investing in a more API-driven approach moving forward:

• Day 0 – Day 1 Operations
  • To make initial deployment even simpler, we can now use a JSON file that stores the configuration options for our environment, avoiding the need to go step-by-step through the deployment wizard.
  • A RESTful API has been made available to automate provisioning operations.
  • The automated initial deployment was limited to 6 nodes. From this APEX Cloud Platform Foundation Software v1.01 and forward, this process can include up to 16 nodes.
  • iDRAC Service Module (iSM) is installed as part of the initial deployment after the first cluster node boots. Its lifecycle management is handled by Dell APEX Cloud Platform Foundation software.
• Day 2 Operations
  • Wizard driven process for node repair/replace
    • This is a Dell services-led procedure, that – depending on the issue – may require re-imaging the node or preparing a new server.
    • In a nutshell, when the issue requires the Operating System to be reinstalled, we need to go through the node repair operation.

Figure 3. GUI driven process for node repair/replace

• Wizard driven process to add/replace disks in a node
  • These operations can be customer-led.
  • Validation checks are run to ensure optimal operation completion.
  • Verification checks are run post disk insertion. When these finalize successfully, the process can be considered completed.

Figure 4. Add disk to a Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure node shows successful completion

• There is a similar wizard when the case is disk replacement instead of disk addition. The output of the replacement process will look like the following:

Figure 5. Replace disk/s to a Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure node shows successful completion

• Serviceability improvements
  • Embedded Service Enabler (ESE) and Remote Secure Credential (RSC) logs have been added to the log bundle collection mechanism. These logs can be very useful when remote access to the cluster is denied and we want to diagnose the connection issue.

Figure 6. Checking the content of a Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure to verify both ESE and RSC logs are included in the bundle

• Microsoft Azure portal integrations
  • Event Monitoring for Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure will deliver a customized Azure workbook which will allow you to monitor faults and events that happen on the Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure hardware and the Cloud Platform Manager via the Microsoft’s Azure Portal itself.

Figure 7. Dell's customized Azure workbook, integrated with Insights in Azure Portal, to monitor real time faults and events generated within Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure

Check the Resources section in this blog for useful links to more information on Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure and specifics to this new release.

We will continue working on enhancing the platform features, so stay tuned for more new and exciting capabilities soon.

Resources

• Blog: Dell Technologies First to Deliver Azure Stack HCI 23H2
• Blog: Monitoring the Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure with Azure Insights
• Info Hub blogs with further details about the new enhancements in our latest release 
• Info Hub white papers, videos, and interactive demos 
• YouTube playlist with educational and demo videos 
• NEW YouTube playlist for March 2024 release
• Main product page with spec sheets, solution briefs, infographics, and other great collateral 
• Dell Support site with administrator guides
• Microsoft’s official announcement of 23H2 general availability 
• General availability of Azure Virtual Desktop 
• Azure Stack HCI Security Book
• Check out What’s new for Azure edge infrastructure in 2023 for an eye opening case study of a fictional grocery store chain that uses Microsoft Azure to deploy and manage infrastructure at the edge using Azure Arc, Azure Kubernetes Service, and Azure Stack HCI. This is a highly enlightening, end-to-end view of how all the technologies within the Azure hybrid cloud ecosystem can harmoniously work together to solve a real-world business problem in the retail vertical. 

And as always, please reach out to your Dell Technologies account team if you would like to have more in-depth discussions about the Dell APEX Cloud Platforms family. If you don’t currently have a Dell Technologies contact, we’re here to help on our corporate website.

Author: Inigo Olcoz - Senior Principal Engineer Technologist Dell HCI Technical Marketing

X: @VirtualOlcoz