Can Customer Deploy ISE 2.4 CCO OVA and Later Edit to Lower CPU, Memory in VMWARE?

[ms7]

Hello Team,

Customer wants to use "ISE-2.4.0.357-virtual-SNS3595-Medium-1200GBHD-64GBRAM-16CPU.ova" (SNS3595 spec) and deploy it. They want 1.2 TB of hard drive space. According to the ISE installation guide, they should build from ISO if they want to customize anything. Changing hard-drive size in VMware will require ISE reimaging. But would changing CPU or memory in the VM setting be okay without ISE reimaging?

After the VM is created from this OVA (downloaded from CCO, 64 GB RAM, 16 CPU), then want to go to VM setting, and lower the CPU/memory to match SNS3515 (16 GB RAM and 12 CPU). They want to keep the 1.2 TB disk (no change). Customer finds it easier to use OVA than building from ISO. Customer wants to know if it is okay for them to edit and do this WITHOUT REIMAGING?

Thanks in advance.

-Moniza.

[Timothy Abbott]

Hi,

Not sure I understand the question. The OVA file sets the disk size which is why we have different versions of the OVA. If the customer wants a large disk for the VM, they will need to set the VM template up manually (including CPU and memory reservations) and then use the ISO to install the software.

Regards,

-Tim

[gbekmezi-DD]

I think they are just asking if it’s okay to use the larger OVA and then modify CPU and memory reservations to match the smaller OVA.

[Craig Hyps · Accepted solution]

Yes, this is possible.  Customers can always edit OVAs parameters after successfully deployed.  Of course, changing settings may result in ISE recalculating the server to be larger or smaller based on config.  We don't recommend removing reservations, or any config change that would risk over-subscription.   If goal is to convert 3595 to a 3515, then you would need to change processors from 16 to 12 and the reservations from 16000Mhz to 12000MHz as well as reduce mem from 64 to 16, and again adjust reservations accordingly.

Craig

[ms7]

Thank you very much Craig for the confirmation.

-Moniza.

[Peter Koltl]

What about the opposite direction? Can we add vCPUs and memory to a 16 GB VM-3515 running ISE 2.2 resulting in VM-3595? I am worried whether there are hard-coded parameters that are set at installation time and not updated when the server boots with increased memory and more vCPUs.

[Damien Miller]

Yes Peter, that will work fine. You can adjust CPU and memory in either direction and ISE will pick it up, disk is fixed, you can't add/remove disk space without a reimage from the ISO.

[paul · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately with the current state of the OVAs (which I have complained about) most customers will have to use the 3515 build which offers a 600 GB option and up the memory and CPU to a 3595 level.  Almost no customer is going to need 1.2 TB of disk especially on the admin nodes.  So the 3595s OVA outside of the 200 GB for PSNs is almost useless.

Hopefully once the ISE BU finishes talking to the Cisco Prime BU about how to properly build OVAs, something the Prime BU has been doing for years, this will all be a moot point and we will laugh about it years from now "Remember when ISE had all those silly OVAs?"  

[Jason Kunst]

Thanks paul, good input, will pass along