It is best practice to deploy a new network environment to support VxRail with SmartFabric networking services, unless you have compatible and unused Dell EMC Ethernet switches in inventory. Enabling SFS on compatible Dell EMC Ethernet switches reverts the switch back to its factory default state, and any existing network configuration on the switch is removed.

• See the VxRail Support Matrix for the specific switch models supported for SmartFabric with VxRail.
• For the leaf layer, either the S4100 (10 GbE) series switches or the S5200 (25 GbE) series switches can be deployed.
• The switch model selected for the leaf layer is dependent on the Ethernet ports to be configured on the VxRail nodes. Select the S4100 or S4200 series switches for 10 GbE data port connectivity, and the S5200 series for 25 GbE data port connectivity.
• The port type (SFP28, SFP+, RJ45) on the switch must match the port type on the selected VxRail nodes.
• For the spine layer, the Z9200 series switch or the S52532 switch model is supported.

Figure 15.          Dell EMC 10GbE/25GbE/100GbE switches supported for VxRail with SFS

The following points must be considered for switch model selection:

• Each VxRail node requires either two or four data ports on the leaf switch.
• Two ports on each leaf switch must be reserved for Virtual Link Trunking (VLT), a requirement for SFS.
• For multirack, reserve two ports on each leaf switch for redundant connectivity to the spine switches.

For rack space planning purposes, each physical rack will require space for a pair of leaf switches. All leaf switches except the S5296 require 1U of rack space, while the S5296 requires 2U of rack space. If the switch fabric expands to encompass multiple racks, additional space will be needed in one of the racks for the spine switches.

See the Dell Networking Optics Specification Sheet for more information.