Note: Skip this section if you do not plan to enable Dell SmartFabric Services in integrated mode to pass control of switch configuration to VxRail.
The planning and preparation tasks for the deployment and operations of a VxRail cluster on a network infrastructure enabled with SmartFabric Services are different from connecting a VxRail cluster to a standard data center network. This section outlines the basic settings that are required for the initial buildout of the network infrastructure with SmartFabric Services.
Enabling the SmartFabric personality on a Dell Ethernet switch that is qualified for SmartFabric Services initiates a discovery process for other connected switches with the same SmartFabric personality for the purposes of forming a unified switch fabric. A switch fabric can start as small as two leaf switches in a single rack. It can then expand automatically by enabling the SmartFabric personality on connected spine switches and connected leaf switches in expansion racks.
Both the Dell Ethernet switches and VxRail nodes advertise themselves at the time of power-on on this same internal discovery network. The SmartFabric-enabled network also configures an “untagged” virtual network on the switch fabric to enable client onboarding through a jump port for access to VxRail Manager to perform cluster implementation. During VxRail initial configuration through VxRail Manager, the required VxRail networks are automatically configured on the switch fabric.
Figure 56. Logical networks for single-tier and two-tier SmartFabric deployments
The Dell Open Management Network Interface (OMNI) plug-in must be deployed on the vCenter instance to support automated switch management after the VxRail cluster is built. The Dell OMNI vCenter plug-in is required for each Dell switch fabric pair. Network properties must be set during the deployment process.
Network Configuration Table Rows 70 and 71 | Reserve an IP address for out-of-band management of each switch in the SmartFabric-enabled network. |
Network Configuration Table Row 72 | Enter the IP address for Dell OMNI vCenter plug-in. |
Network Configuration Table Row 73 | Enter the subnet mask for Dell OMNI vCenter plug-in. |
Network Configuration Table Row 74 | Enter the gateway for Dell OMNI vCenter plug-in. |
For complete details on the settings that are needed during the planning and preparation phase for a SmartFabric-enabled network, see the Planning Guide—Dell VxRail with SmartFabric Services on infohub.delltechnologies.com.