01-03-2014 08:50 AM - edited 03-01-2019 11:25 AM
Hi Experts,
We have 7 UCS domain. But only have one vCenter. Now we want to enable VM-FEX on each UCS domain and join to the same vCenter. Is it work? I did not find any configuration limit description about this relation.
Or we must create 7 vCenter for each UCS domain? (But I feel it is not make sense.)
Best regards,
Meng-Yuan Hsieh (Nick)
Solved! Go to Solution.
07-31-2015 08:57 AM
Hi Meng!
I opened a TAC case on this and after much discussion with Cisco, connecting multiple UCS domains to a single vCenter is supported. However, it turns out that Cisco neglected to document this and the procedure to make it work. You'll find that procedures were written in older documentation for VN-LINK and some for VM-FEX. This documentation states that it's necessary to create new certificates and that the extension key must match. This is NOT true any more with newer versions of UCSM and vCenter. Cisco has told me they're going to update their documentation.
Here are the steps we took to connect two UCS domains to the same vCenter utilizing the default self-signed certificates. I hope this helps... Please mark this post as the correct answer when you get a chance. Thanks!!
vCenter Version: 5.5
UCSM Version: 2.2(5a)
01-05-2014 09:17 PM
Hello Meng,
Unfortunately you can't do that.
When you start to use VM-FEX the control plane of the virtual networking is integrated to a pair of Fabric Interconnect (UCS Domain), where you will manage your entire virtual network. If you have more that one UCS-Domain the VM-FEX feature can not be used, alternately you may use the Nexus 1000v.
Richard
01-06-2014 05:33 AM
Hi Richard,
But we want to enable hight performance mode in VM-FEX. Nexus 1000v did not have this feature.
Best regards,
Meng-Yuan Hsieh (Nick)
01-06-2014 05:42 AM
Hi Meng,
Unfortunately today isn't possible.
Think as a simple network with mutiple control planes trying to assume the same role or do that same thing. The VM-FEX tecnology still have this limitation so far.
I was wondering why you have 7 UCS-domains? Are all domains sharing the same storage layer, if not, you can't integrate it anyway.
01-06-2014 06:05 AM
Hi Richard,
Each UCS-domain for different service area. But we hope all the ESXi servers can be managed by single vCenter and all servers can enable high-performance mode on VM-FEX.
BTW. We total have 26 chassis and almost 150 blades.
01-06-2014 09:59 AM
Hi Richard,
I have a idea. If we deploy 7 vCenter for each UCS domain with VM-FEX. Can I setup vCenter "Linked Mode" for vCenter single point management?
Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPad App
01-07-2014 04:57 AM
Hi Meng,
Should works, considering the vCenter Linked Mode limitations.
Regards.
Richard
01-08-2014 06:30 AM
Hi Richard,
OK! Thank's! I will try it.
Best regards,
Meng-Yuan Hsieh (Nick)
06-23-2015 10:01 AM
Meng,
Did setting up VM-FEX across multiple UCS domains to multiple vCenters in linked mode work for you? I'm currently in the same situation and the server infrastructure team isn't too happy that they may have to build two additional vCenters to so VM-FEX can work across our two UCS domains. Let me know!
06-24-2015 12:59 AM
Hi Alex,
Because we have too many UCS domain. So we each UCS domain have they own vCenter. We did not use link mode.
Best regards,
Meng-Yuan Hsieh (Nick)
07-31-2015 08:57 AM
Hi Meng!
I opened a TAC case on this and after much discussion with Cisco, connecting multiple UCS domains to a single vCenter is supported. However, it turns out that Cisco neglected to document this and the procedure to make it work. You'll find that procedures were written in older documentation for VN-LINK and some for VM-FEX. This documentation states that it's necessary to create new certificates and that the extension key must match. This is NOT true any more with newer versions of UCSM and vCenter. Cisco has told me they're going to update their documentation.
Here are the steps we took to connect two UCS domains to the same vCenter utilizing the default self-signed certificates. I hope this helps... Please mark this post as the correct answer when you get a chance. Thanks!!
vCenter Version: 5.5
UCSM Version: 2.2(5a)
08-01-2015 08:14 AM
Hi Alex,
Awesome. It's a huge news. Thank you for your update.
Best regards,
Meng-Yuan Hsieh (Nick)
Discover and save your favorite ideas. Come back to expert answers, step-by-step guides, recent topics, and more.
New here? Get started with these tips. How to use Community New member guide