topic Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V in Server Networking

SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:41:51 GMT

Hello,

before I get too epic let me ask, are there still downright SRE specialists around?

Problem: have SM-SRE-910-K9 with SRE-V /ESXi 5.0 on it, can't log in (have not the required root password), have no access to the installation files for a re-install. Any suggestions?

Consoled via Putty into the router, Alt-F1 to escape the DCUI not possible, Putty problem or simply not allowed to leave the DCUI?

Last Question: in status report, under the "resources info" there are no drives listed, albeit they can be seen under "boot diag" with no problems. Any idea why is that?

Any chance to get hold of further/more extensive documentation on the blade?

Thank you

André

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 08:22:36 GMT

Just to clarify - it is my own SRE in my own 2951 (home :-) ) router, Ebay-purchased...if you can help, you won't help me with illegal activities...

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

marcelo.alcantara — Wed, 23 May 2018 12:34:15 GMT

So you are trying to access SRE-V after purchasing on ebay, right? You'd better re-install the software ( https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/access/interfaces/software/feature/guide/ism-sm-sre.html ) , which BTW got stucked on 5.x vSphere version and then you can go unsupported but up to vSphere version 6.0 by manually cli vib upgrades.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Wed, 23 May 2018 15:38:35 GMT

Hi,

thanks for caring to answer - yep, that's what I wanted to do. Of course I would like to re-install the SW but simply don't have it. But anyway, problem meanwhile solved, I managed to reset the password and have SRE-V working now. I'd like to do the upgrade, but am somewhat fearful it might get stuck again - never change a running system.

Thank you anyway,

André

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

Simon Sparks — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 17:39:27 GMT

I successfully managed to upgrade my SM 910 running SRE-V 2.0.2 all the way up to ESXi v6.5 Update 2, I tried v6.7 but it killed it so I am now re-installing it from scratch.

But I can confirm that it works perfectly with ESXi v6.5 Update 2, also I installed a pair of cheapo SSDs in it instead of the SATA300 5400RPM HDDs and did a single node vSAN which also works.

I have a pair of SM 910s in a Cisco 2951 in my home lab and the MGF internal connection is 4GBit so I am planning on trying to get a ROBO vSAN set up.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

olobley — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 02:55:32 GMT

What sequence of commands did you use to update from the 5.1 in the 2.0.2 bundle? I've tried a few of the ESXCLI commands to update, but either get package incompatibility errors, or end up with a busted install if I overwrite the Cisco OEM profile :(

Finally, with reference to the SSD's, did you just replace both drives and reinstall the 2.0.2 bundle?

Thank you!

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

olobley — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 04:38:24 GMT

Got bored waiting...

So I've managed to get the SRE to ESXi 6.5 with a couple of caveats.

The command sequence is approximately this.

This works on the assumption you have:
   2.0.2 package accessible on an FTP server (server IP address of 10.0.5.61 in this instance, running Xlight FTP server)
   downloaded the ESXi 5.5 and 6.5 most recent rollup bundles.

In brief, we're going 5.1 -> 5.5 -> 6.5
While technically you can jump 5.1 straight to 6.5 (installing the 5.5 patch in the middle without rebooting, I found I had issues with the 6.5 issues being able to access the datastores)

On the router console:
**we need this later once the Cisco specific VIBs are removed from VMWare to stop the router restarting the service module
service-module sm1/0 heartbeat-reset disable
**install Cisco Certified VMWare 5.1
service-module sm1/0 install url ftp://10.0.5.61/sre-v-k9-r.SPA.smv.2.0.2.pkg
**choose -1 (nonraid) for the raid config or else the upgrade to 5.5 will fail (nb - haven't tried Raid0, but Raid1 definitely fails)
**once install has completed
service-module sm1/0 session
**log in using router credentials
**set root password (default is blank)
**access HTTPS://<ip of your VMware instance - in this case 10.0.5.43)
**download/install VMware vSphere client for 5.1
**run vSphere client. Log in using IP address, root & password set above
**configuration -> storage -> upload ESX Bundle files (ESXi550-201809001 and ESXi650-201811002) to root of datastore1
**configuration -> security profile, properties on services, select SSH -> Options -> Start -> OK
SSH to vmware instance.
**remove problem SATA driver (nb if you have chosen RAID1, it'll fail on reboot as it now sees two disks with identical signatures)
esxcli software vib remove -n scsi-ptiahci
**do not reboot
**remove Cisco reset button tools (starts failing on 6.5 installation)
esxcli software vib remove -n char-reset-button
**do not reboote
**perform upgrade to 5.5
esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi550-201809001.zip
**reboot
(either type reboot in SSH session or right click on IP in vSphere client & select reboot -> yes)
**access HTTPS://<ip of your VMware instance - in this case 10.0.5.43)
**download/install VMware vSphere client for 5.5
**run vSphere client. Log in using IP address, root & password set earlier
**configuration -> storage -> 'Add Storage...' -> 'Disk/LUN' -> Next -> Choose top 'Local ATA Disk' -> Next -> Keep the existing signature -> Finish
**repeat above step for other ATA disks
**configuration -> security profile, properties on services, select SSH -> Options -> Start -> OK
SSH to vmware instance.
**perform upgrade to 6.5
esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ESXi650-201811002.zip
**reboot
(either type reboot in SSH session or right click on IP in vSphere client & select reboot -> yes)
**access HTTPS://<ip of your VMware instance) -> log in as root with password set earlier -> rejoice at ESXi 6.5 goodness

For reference, my SM1/0 is configured:

interface SM1/0
       ip unnumbered GigabitEthernet0/1
       service-module heartbeat-reset disable
       service-module ip address 10.0.5.43 255.255.255.0
       service-module ip default-gateway 10.0.5.1

And the gi0/1 port on the router:

interface GigabitEthernet0/1
       ip address 10.0.5.42 255.255.255.0
       duplex auto
       speed auto

***notes
The memory onboard appears to be of type 'PC2-5300P DDR2 667MHz ECC 2Rx4 VLP', those are a lot cheaper than the official part# SM-MEM-VLP-4GB
I've had no success swapping the drives for non-'approved' ones - even to the extent of doing a forensic copy onto another drive. evidently the check is implemented in the drive firmware
If anyone has a more recent SRE (en-140 or similar), I'd be most interested if you could export your Cisco VIBs to see if we can get the SRE-910's playing nicely under ESXi 6.5

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

Simon Sparks — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 20:06:42 GMT

Sorry for not replying sooner I am in the middle of changing jobs first day tomorrow at a prestigious firm in Canary Wharf London.

i removed both of the hard disks prior to the install and I used diskpart in a windows pc to clean them both for reuse elsewhere.

i Installed 2.0.2 from Cisco and then upgraded to 5.5 and removed the conflicting VIBs. I then upgraded to 6.5 U2 and once this was complete. I powered off and installed some old Samsung 840 SSDs which work perfectly.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 22:57:51 GMT

Hello olobley,

as the OP I feel obliged to answer in order not to appear unpolite, although your post referenced Simon Sparks post and not mine...

Glad to hear everything worked out fine for you, and that's exactly what I would try myself, but I'm lacking exactly the package you mentioned in the "install url" (the sre-v-k9-r.SPA.smv.2.0.2.pkg), having no Cisco contract I have no way to get hold of that. So, I just dare not change the running old system, being unable to recreate the system should anything go wrong.

Thank you anyway for your informative and extensive presentation.

As you (or fellow posters in Canary Wharf; good luck!) can imagine, I'm, ahum, open for suggestions how to obtain aforementioned pkg...

Regards

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

Simon Sparks — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:19:39 GMT

PM me and I will help you get hold of the package files

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

olobley — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:55:29 GMT

I loved my time in Canary Wharf. I used to work in a place in East Quay off Marsh Wall (I think it's since become a Hilton) before we moved stateside.

I actually didn't try pulling all the partitions off the disk, will do that next to see if it gets me any further. Were you able to get the disks to behave in RAID1, or are they JBOD?

@cisconaut- Given the bulk of the software (vmware 5.1) is effectively free (you only need a vmware account and they'll give you a basic license key), if you were to use a popular search engine, put in my forum ID and the filename (sre-v-k9-r.SPA.smv.2.0.2.zip), you might find what you're looking for (don't use the baidu links)

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

Simon Sparks — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 07:59:44 GMT

You can download the package file for free from Cisco DevNet no Cisco login required.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

olobley — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:05:06 GMT

Nice, where abouts in the devnet is that?

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:14:20 GMT

Hello Simon,

indeed, found the site and offer, but at least for the moment nothing happens when clicking on the particular link. I´ll try sometime later.

As to PM, I already tried to PM you several weeks, if not months ago, to no avail, it seems? I'll try that again, also. But should the DevNet link be functional, we'll be happy anyway.

Thank you, have a good time.

André

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:20:40 GMT

Hello olobley,

w.r.t. Simon's message: simple. Use the famous search engine with "devnet" and package name (Cisco DevNet sre-v-k9-r.SPA.smv.2.0.2.zip), that did it for me, only the link to the package download is not functional, at least not for me.

I'll tried your proposition, found a magnet, but that leading to sites with funny character sets, so-to-say. Since my command of mandarin is quite so excellent, I'm stuck there again.

I hope for the DevNet solution, if one of you lads has time to verify that the link works, please let me know.

Thank you, have a good time

André

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

olobley — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 15:16:30 GMT

Thanks, I didn't think to try the actual filename on DevNet.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

cisconaut — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 17:22:20 GMT

I meant, my command of Mandarin is NOT quite so excellent, of course

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

stevechriscomeau@gmail.com — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 02:10:36 GMT

I was able to upgrade using your post but instead opted to go from 5.5 to 6.5 u3. I stopped there and haven't gone further but would like to attempt getting to 6.7 from there at some point.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

stevechriscomeau@gmail.com — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 02:19:41 GMT

So i downgraded back to 5.1 after accidentally deleting my default vm switch. Could not get access to the hypervisor again after that. Stewed on it and started from 5.1 again. Running vWLC at the moment. Looking to know if anyone has had success running microsoft windows server 2019 yet? After I was able to upgrade to vmware esxi 6.5u3 I noticed there is an option for new vm to select "windows server 2016 and later" as an option when creating new VM's. That was my goal in the upgrade, to know could you run a modern windows server on an old sm-sre module.

Re: SM-SRE-910-K9 and SRE-V

Simon Sparks — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 12:14:51 GMT

You can’t run ESXi v6.7 on the SM-SRE 910 it just doesn’t boot anymore.

I am sticking with ESXi v6.5 with all the updates and patches as that is sufficient for my needs.

I am contemplating setting up a 4 node cluster in a Cisco 3945E.

Yes you can run Server 2019. I run my AD servers for my home lab on the SM-SRE 910s along with some public PowerDNS servers and a jump box for access hen the lab is powered down.