The initialization process requires a desktop with an operating system such as Windows that can reach the VxRail external management network, and a supported web browser that can access VxRail management interface.

There are two options that can be used for this purpose:

• A workstation or laptop that can plug into an open Ethernet port on one of the top-of-rack switches
• A jump host (Jump Server Description) in your data center that can reach the VxRail external management network

If you choose the method to plug a workstation or laptop into an open Ethernet port on a switch, and you choose a VLAN other than the default “native” VLAN for the VxRail external management network, first configure the port to enable connectivity to the VxRail management interface.

Once the VxRail initialization process is complete, the switch port or jump host is no longer required to manage VxRail.

Note: Do not try to plug your workstation/laptop directly into a VxRail server node to connect to the VxRail management interface for initialization. It must be plugged into your network or switch, and the workstation/laptop must be logically configured to reach the necessary networks.

A supported web browser is required to access VxRail management interface. The latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer 10+ are all supported. If you are using Internet Explorer 10+ and an administrator has set your browser to “compatibility mode” for all internal websites (local web addresses), you will get a warning message from VxRail.

To access the VxRail management interface to perform initialization, you must use either the temporary, preconfigured VxRail initial IP address: 192.168.10.200/24, or have Dell services apply the permanent IP address to VxRail Manager. This temporary IP address will automatically change during VxRail initialization to your desired permanent address, and assigned to VxRail Manager during cluster formation.

Your workstation/laptop must be able to reach both the temporary VxRail initial IP address and the permanent VxRail Manager IP address (Row 15 from Appendix A: VxRail Network Configuration Table). VxRail initialization will remind you that you might need to reconfigure your workstation/laptop network settings to access the new IP address.

It is best practice to give your workstation/laptop or your jump server two IP addresses on the same network port, which allows for a smoother experience. Depending on your workstation/laptop, this can be implemented in several ways (such as dual-homing or multi-homing). Otherwise, change the IP address on your workstation/laptop when instructed to and then return to VxRail Manager to continue with the initialization process.

If you cannot reach the VxRail initial IP address, Dell support team can configure a custom IP address, subnet mask, and gateway on VxRail Manager before initialization.

The following table is an example of how to set the IP addresses on the Ethernet port. The IP address settings on the jump host or laptop should be in the same subnet range as the temporary IP address and permanent IP address planned for VxRail Manager.