FlexPod Implementation Guide (Direct Connect) FCoE

[pbolshakov]

Hello and good day!

We are testing the solution - FlexPod with next equipment:

UCS 5108 (2 x FI 6324)

2 x UCS B200 M3

NetApp FAS2552

2 x Twinax (10Gbit Ethernet)

We want to configure direct connect (without switches) NetApp FAS2552 to two FI 6324 over FCoE.

Connection details:

FI 6324 (A): Unified Port 1 -> NetApp FAS2552 Controller Left (Port 0c)

FI 6324 (B): Unified Port 1 -> NetApp FAS2552 Controller Right (Port 0c)

Firmware version details:

UCS Manager: 3.0(2c)

UCS FI6324 Kernel: 5.0(3)N2(3.02c)

UCS FI6324 System: 5.0(3)N2(3.02c)

B200 M3 (Bios): B200M3.3.0.2.0.013020151639

B200 M3 (Board Controller): 13.0

B200 M3 (CIMC Controller): 3.0(2c)

B200 M3 (VIC 1240): 4.0(3a)

NetApp Details:

Data ONTap 8.3P1

I can't find fresh implementation guide for this configuration.

Please help find the fresh implementation guide!

Thanks in advance!

[Walter Dey]

You mean newer than this

http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/flexpod_ucsmini_design.pdf

[pbolshakov]

I mean that we need the implementation guide, not design guide. Implementation/configuration guide both for Cisco UCS and NetApp FAS storage system in one document.

I have found configuration example (UCS Direct Attached Storage and FC Zoning Configuration Example), but there are no any configuration examples for NetApp storage system.

[klemnetapp]

Hello,

You didn't mention which other components you will be using (hypervisor, switch, etc.) However, here's a link to our latest popular FlexPod deployment guides.

• FlexPod Datacenter with UCS Mini - http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/flexpod_ucsmini_esxi55_fc.pdf
• FlexPod Express with UCS Mini - http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/flexpod_express_ucsmini_esxi55_fc.pdf
• FlexPod Datacenter with vSphere 5.5U1 and Nexus 9000 - http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/flexpod_esxi55u1_n9k.pdf

You can also find all of the latest FlexPod deployment guides at the following URL. 

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/enterprise/data-center-designs-cloud-computing/fpplatforms.html#info-VMwareDeployment

Thanks,

Dave

[pbolshakov]

Aditional information about components:

Hypervisor: VMware 5.5

Switch (Demo Stand): WS-C6509-E

Here is the scheme of our demo stand:

Next two deployment guides are not suitable to our case:

1) FlexPod Express with Cisco UCS Mini and VMware vSphere 5.5

2) FlexPod Datacenter with Cisco UCS Mini and VMware vSphere 5.5

They do not mention the information about configuration the FCoE storage port.

We have successfully set up a direct connection via FCoE with two NetApp storage systems FAS2552 and FAS2554.

So I suggest to close this topic. But thanks anyway!

[Walter Dey]

Hi

Just a last comment !

Although you can use 1G Ethernet connection Northbound; best practise is to use 10G.

The big limitation comes from the East - West Traffic (e.g. vmotion, live migration) , not so much for the North - South one.

Walter.

[jairo.martinez]

I think the following Deployment Guides could be useful:

Deployment Guide for Flex Pod Datacenter with Cisco UCS Mini and VMware vSphere 5.5 with IP-Based Storage

Deployment Guide for Flex Pod Datacenter with Cisco UCS Mini and VMware vSphere 5.5 with Direct Attached SAN Storage

FlexPod with Cisco UCS Mini Design Guide