05-27-2013 07:12 AM - edited 03-01-2019 11:03 AM
Hi,
I have configured a few Cisco UC and UCS with VMware deployments already. Usually all the UC appos are on the same IP range so just configure VMware NICs in Active / Standby with no VLAN tagging and configure the LAN switchports as access ports.
I have now got a new install where I will be connecting into 2 x core 6500s using VSS - the Cisco UC apps on each C240 will be on different VLANs. Is my best option to configure the LAN with Port Channels and VMware with Active / Active NICs?
I have another deployment configured as above with no issues but jsut want to know if Port Channels are overkill for this scenario or whether there is a better option
Thanks
Russell
05-27-2013 08:31 AM
Hello Russell,
Is the deployment using vSwitch ( supports static port-channel ) or VMware vDS ( supports LACP port-channel from ESXi 5.1 ) ?
If you plan to implement port-channel, you also need to change the default load balancing option to "Route based on IP hash "
General recommendations are documented here
http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/QoS_Design_Considerations_for_Virtual_UC_with_UCS#Introduction
Padma
05-27-2013 08:51 AM
Hi,
I'm not up on my networking but customer said he uses LACP. Does this mean I cannot use port channels as I'm using ESXi 5.0 and vSwitch ?
Thanks
05-27-2013 09:04 AM
Hello Russell,
LACP port-channel is not supported by VMware ( ESXi 5.0 + vSwitch ) . It supports only static port-channel.
Padma
05-27-2013 12:42 PM
Thanks very much for info
So if I don't use port channels and I need to trunk multiple VLANs to ESXi 5.0 is it possible to configure the 2 x switch ports as trunks without causing a loop?. If possible would I need to configure them as Active / Passive or Active Active on ESXi?
05-28-2013 08:00 AM
Hello Russell,
You can deploy ESXi 5.0 + vSwitch + Active / Active NIC teaming + Port channel if there are no specific requirements from UC apps.
Sample configuration is documented in following VMware KB article
Padma
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