VxRail depends on access to web services outside the customer data center for certain features and functionality to work.
VxRail can be deployed and operated in a data center where access to the external network is blocked, but certain features are inoperable and a workaround might be needed.
- The VMware-branded software that is deployed on VxRail requires a VMware license. The licenses can be perpetual or based on a subscription licensing model. A perpetual license requires a key value that is retrieved from the VMware support site to be entered into VMware vCenter. The subscription model requires access to the VMware cloud through a cloud gateway virtual appliance for license activation.
- You can configure VxRail to register directly with Dell support through VxRail Manager to streamline access to support services and product updates. You can also configure VxRail Manager to directly connect with Dell support services or to use a proxy server to align with customer networking security policies.
- Dell call-home enables VxRail Manager to directly contact support services in the event of a serious or critical failure on the cluster, thereby expediting resolution with Dell Support. The secure connect gateway virtual appliance can be deployed in the customer data center to consolidate call-home connectivity for Dell products in the data center.
If external network access to these sites is not allowed for VxRail:
- Work with VMware or your VMware partner to understand the licensing options.
- Download software updates without the aid of VxRail Manager and then transport to the data center for upload to VxRail Manager.
- Dell support personnel are not able to configure a remote session to troubleshoot VxRail.
The data center network must be configured to enable VxRail to connect to these external sites for the described functionality and services to work. For more information about the firewall rules for these services, see Appendix D: VxRail Open Ports Requirements.