If you have successfully followed all the steps that are listed in this document, you are ready to move to the final phase: Log in to a jump host, or connect the laptop or workstation to a switch port, and perform VxRail initialization. These steps are done by Dell service representatives and are included here to help you understand the complete process.

Before coming on-site, the Dell service representative will have contacted you to capture and record the information that is described in Appendix A: VxRail Network Configuration Table and walk through Appendix C: VxRail Cluster Setup Checklist.

Step 1.   Before coming on-site, the Dell service representative will have contacted you to capture and record the information that is described in Appendix A: VxRail Network Configuration Table and walk through Appendix C: VxRail Cluster Setup Checklist.

Step 2.   If your planned VxRail deployment requires a Witness at a remote data center location, the Witness virtual appliance is deployed.

Step 3.   If your planned deployment includes the purchase of Dell Ethernet switches and professional services to install and configure the switches to support the VxRail cluster, that activity is performed before VxRail deployment activities commence.

Step 4.   If your planned deployment is a dynamic cluster, ensure that the necessary preparations for the selected external storage resource are complete.

Step 5.   Install the VxRail nodes in a rack or multiple racks in the data center. If Dell professional services are not installing the switches, install the network switches supporting the VxRail cluster into the same racks for ease of management.

Step 6.   Attach Ethernet cables between the ports on the VxRail nodes and switch ports that are configured to support VxRail network traffic.

Step 7.   Power on the initial nodes to form the initial VxRail cluster. Do not turn on any other VxRail nodes until you have completed the formation of the VxRail cluster with the first three or four nodes.

Step 8.   Connect a workstation/laptop or jump host configured for VxRail initialization to access the VxRail external management network on your selected VLAN. It must be either plugged into the top-of-rack switch, or able to logically reach the VxRail external management network from elsewhere on your network.

Step 9.   Open a browser to the VxRail initial IP address to begin the VxRail initialization process. This is either the default IP address assigned to VxRail Manager at the factory, or the permanent IP address set by Dell services.

Step 10.                              The Dell service representative will populate the input screens on the menu with the data collected from the customer during the planning and design process.

Step 11.                              VxRail performs the verification process, using the information input into the menus.

Step 12.                              After validation is successful, the initialization process will begin to build a new VxRail cluster.

Step 13.                              The new permanent IP address for VxRail Manager will be displayed.

• If the permanent IP address was set on VxRail Manager before initialization, the browser will work seamlessly through the process.
• If you configured the workstation/laptop to enable connectivity to both the temporary VxRail IP address and the new permanent IP address, the browser session will make the switch automatically. If not, you must manually change the IP settings on your workstation/laptop to be on the same subnet as the new VxRail IP address.
• If your workstation/laptop cannot connect to the new IP address that you configured, you will get a message to fix your network and try again. If you are unable to connect to the new IP address after 20 minutes, VxRail will revert to its unconfigured state, and you will need to reenter your configuration at the temporary VxRail IP address.
• After the build process starts, if you close your browser, you will need to browse to the new, permanent VxRail IP address.

Step 14.                              Progress is shown as the VxRail cluster is built. The process takes about 25-40 minutes.

Step 15.                              When VxRail initialization is complete and a new VxRail cluster is built, click the Manage VxRail button to continue to VxRail management. You should also bookmark this IP address in your browser for future use.

Step 16.                              Connect to VxRail Manager using either the VxRail Manager IP address (Row 15) or the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) (Row 14) that you configured on your DNS server. This will lead you to the vCenter instance.