Question about using UCS to provide vNIC failover vs OS Teaming

[eefranzen]

We have the option to present Microsoft and RHEL server a single vNIC that has Failover Enabled or we can present two vNICs, one from each fabric that do not have Failover Enabled and then create a Teamed NIC from within the OS.

Is there any known best practices around which is better or more robust?

Wondering if it is analogist to using hardware RAID vs Microsoft software RAID (Which we never do).

Thanks,

Ernie

[Walter Dey]

Hi Ernie

Regarding MS Windows

W2008 time: MSFT had no teaming software bundled with OS; all third party software based; W2008 hyper-v had some caveats, which made UCS Hardware failover a excellent solution; with disadvantages that FI CPU had to handle GARP !

W2012 time: MSFT bundles teaming with the OS; therefore best practise is to use virtual dual homed setup.

In general: it might better that OS is handle HA and failover, not the underlying hardware (= UCS vic adaptor) !