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Deployment Guide—Dell EMC Microsoft HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server
Solution Overview
Solution Overview Solution introduction Deployment models Solution integration and network connectivity

Deployment models

  • Dell EMC HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server offer the following types of cluster infrastructure deployments:

    • Switchless storage networking
    • Scalable infrastructure
    • Stretched cluster infrastructure
    Note: Deployment instructions for stretched cluster infrastructure are not covered in this deployment guidance. For information about this infrastructure, see the Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI: Stretched Cluster Deployment Reference Architecture Guide.

    Switchless storage networking

    This variant of Dell EMC HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server offers two to four nodes in a switchless configuration for storage traffic. This infrastructure can be implemented using any of the validated and supported AX nodes. However, the number of nodes in a cluster varies between the AX node models and the number of network adapters that each model supports.

    Switchless storage networking offers two full-mesh configurations:
    • Single-link
    • Dual-link

    For more information about these switchless storage networking configurations, see Network Integration and Host Configuration Options.

    Note: For the two-node cluster deployment, configure a cluster witness. For details, see Configuring a cluster witness.

    Note: The switchless storage configuration has been validated with back-to-back connections for storage connectivity.

    The following figure illustrates the switchless storage networking infrastructure:

    Figure 1. Switchless storage networking

    Scalable infrastructure

    The scalable offering within Dell EMC HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server encompasses various AX node configurations. In this Windows Server HCI solution, as many as 16 AX nodes power the primary compute cluster.

    The following figure illustrates one of the flexible solution architectures. It includes the Azure Stack HCI cluster, redundant top-of-rack (ToR) switches, a separate out-of-band (OOB) network, and an existing management infrastructure in the data center.

    Figure 2. Scalable solution architecture

    Dell EMC HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server do not include management infrastructure components such as a cluster for hosting management VMs and services such as Microsoft Active Directory, Domain Name System (DNS), Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and Microsoft System Center components such as Operations Manager (SCOM). The instructions in this guide do not include deployment of any of these services and components, and assumes that at least an Active Directory domain controller is available in the existing management infrastructure. In a remote office scenario, Dell Technologies recommends that you deploy either an Active Directory replica or read-only domain controller (RODC) at the remote office. If you are using an RODC at the remote site, connectivity to the central management infrastructure with a writeable domain controller is mandatory during deployment of the Azure Stack HCI cluster.

    Note: Dell Technologies does not support expansion of a two-node cluster to a larger cluster size. A three-node cluster provides fault-tolerance only for simultaneous failure of a single node and a single drive. If the deployment requires future expansion and better fault tolerance, consider starting with a four-node cluster at a minimum.

    Note: For recommended server and network switch placement in the racks, port mapping on the top-of-rack (ToR) and out-of-band (OOB) switches, and details about configuring the ToR and OOB switches, see Network Integration and Host Network Configuration Options.

    This deployment guide provides instructions and PowerShell commands for manually deploying an Azure Stack HCI cluster. For information about configuring host networking and creating an Azure Stack HCI cluster by using System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM), see Preparing and Using SCVMM for Azure Stack HCI Network and Cluster Configuration.

    Stretched cluster infrastructure

    The Azure Stack HCI operating system added a new feature to support disaster recovery between two sites using Azure Stack HCI clusters. With Storage Replica as its foundation, stretched clusters support both synchronous and asynchronous replication of data between two sites. The replication direction (uni- or bi-directional) can be configured for either an active/passive or active/active stretched cluster configuration.

    Note: Stretched clustering infrastructure is supported only with the Azure Stack HCI operating system. For information about this infrastructure, see the Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI: Stretched Cluster Deployment Reference Architecture Guide.

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Solution integration and network connectivity