UCS C240 LAN Connection Query

[rchaseling]

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

[padramas]

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

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1001938

Padma

[rchaseling]

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

[padramas]

Hello Russell,

LACP port-channel is not supported by VMware (  ESXi 5.0 + vSwitch ) . It supports only static port-channel.

Padma

[rchaseling]

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?

[padramas]

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

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1004048

Padma