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SFS uplink options to external network switches include:
If there is no preference for the uplink type, L2 uplink configuration has fewer steps than L3 uplink configuration. Uplinks from spines must be L3.
Note: Dell recommends using uplinks from a leaf pair as a best practice. These leafs are referred to as border leafs. VxRail nodes and other servers in the rack may be connected to border leafs in the same manner as other leafs in the SmartFabric.
If an L2 uplink is used, determine the VLAN ID to use for VxRail external management, and if ports in the uplink will be tagged or untagged. Typically, this will be the same VLAN used for DNS and NTP services on the existing network, as shown in the example in this guide. Optionally, traffic may be routed from the external switch to the DNS/NTP servers.
The L2 uplink may be an LACP or static LAG. If L2 uplinks connect to a pair of Dell EMC PowerSwitch systems, Dell recommends using LACP with VLT per the example in this guide.
L2 uplink configuration is covered in detail in the Configure L2 uplinks to the external network section of this guide.
Note: With L2 uplinks, all routing into and out of the SmartFabric is done on external switches.
SFS supports using L3 routed or L3 VLAN uplinks.
With L3 routed uplinks, each physical link is a point-to-point IP network. With L3 VLAN, all uplinks are in a LAG, and an IP address is assigned to the VLAN containing the LAG. This guide provides examples using L3 routed uplinks. L3 VLAN examples are beyond the scope of this guide.
Point-to-point IP networks and addresses must be planned for each physical link in the L3 uplink.
Each leaf switch in the SmartFabric needs an IP address on the External Management VLAN. An anycast gateway address on the same VLAN is also specified. This is the virtual router/anycast gateway address shared by all leafs in the SmartFabric.
SmartFabric supports routing using eBGP or static routes. eBGP and static routing examples are both provided in this guide.
Note: SFS does not support other routing protocols.
If eBGP is used, ASNs and router IDs must be determined for the external switches. These are automatically configured on all switches in the SmartFabric.
Note: SFS uses ASNs 65011 for leafs, and 65012 for spines. If these ASNs conflict with your environment, they may be changed in the SFS GUI under 5. Edit Default Fabric Settings.
L3 uplink configuration is covered in detail in the Configure L3 routed uplinks to the external network section of this guide.