UCS C220 M3 raid configuration

[Cristobal Jimenez Priego]

hello all,

I have a UCS C220 M3 server. with 8 hard drives in it.

I am going to be installing Cisco Voice on this server.

The server comes preconfigured with RAID 5 only

I was expecting it to have RAID 1 and RAID 5. so i can install ESXi on RAID 1 and all create all the VMs for Cisco voice on the RAID 5

does that make sense?

do i need to recreate the raids from scratch or move forward and do all the installation on RAID 5 only ?

thank you

[David McFarland]

You should be able to go into the LSI WebBIOS during post and clear the existing Raid-5 configuration. Then create a Raid-1 set with 2 drives and use the remaing for Raid-5.

Dave

[dsobrinho]

Hi Dave,

I am facing the same problem. After CIMC has been configured I have mapped the ESXi 5.0  and during the installation options appears the VDs as location to receive the ESXi OS (HV Hipervision, OsDrive, SCU and HUU). I select the HUU.

Would you have the step by step to start a UCS with Raid configuration and ESXi installation?

Best ragards,

Daniel

[scooter817]

Hi Daniel

I've been searching the internet for what you mentioned and I wanted to know did you get the step by step instructions. The reason I ask is because I'm working with a guy who wanted to add a subscriber node to his environment and not knowing anything about CUCM he called Ingram Micro and they sold him a UCS C22 M3 box running business edition 11.01. He currently has CUCM 10.5.1 installed as his publisher and he wants me to wipe the configuration off of the UCS and install CUCM 10.5.1 on it but I don't know about UCS boxes. I wanted get some instructions on how to wipe off business edition so I can load standard CUCM VM's.

Eric

[Daniel Laden]

Cristbal,

You mention Cisco Voice.  To maintain the greatest level of support with TAC, you will want to follow the TRC specs.  The C220 was tested with two R5 logical disks.  You can reconfigure but you will fall out of TRC support into spec-based supported.  If disk activity is deemed an issue, you will be denied TAC support.  TRC will assure TAC will continue to support you if there seems to be a issue with disk performance.

UC on UCS Tested Reference Configurations

http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/UC_Virtualization_Supported_Hardware#UC_on_UCS_Tested_Reference_Configurations

Cisco Unified Communications Manager on virtualized servers

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/virtual/CUCM_BK_CA526319_00_cucm-on-virtualized-servers_chapter_00.html

Set up RAID for Cisco C220 M3 rack-mount server TRC1

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/virtual/CUCM_BK_CA526319_00_cucm-on-virtualized-servers_chapter_00.html#CUCM_RF_C485F7BA_00

For general UC on UCS knowledge

http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Unified_Communications_Virtualization

Thank You,

Dan Laden

Cisco PDI Data Center

Want to know more about how PDI can assist you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OAJrkMfN3c

http://www.cisco.com/go/pdihelpdesk

[Daniel Laden]

Daniel,

Sounds like you may need the Cisco Customized ESXi ISO for installation.  The VMWare original release does not have all the drivers for Cisco hardware.

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 GA Install CD

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=CISCO-ESXI-5.0.0-GA-23AUG2011&productId=229

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 U1 GA Install CD

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?downloadGroup=CISCO-ESXI-5.0.0-U1-28AUG2012&productId=229

Thank You,

Dan Laden

Cisco PDI Data Center

Want to know more about how PDI can assist you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OAJrkMfN3c

http://www.cisco.com/go/pdihelpdesk

[dsobrinho]

Hi Dave,

Another doubts.

Which is the difference between ISOs below? 

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 GA Install CD

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 U1 GA Install CD

Is  that correct install the ESXi on HUU?  I asked this because after  configure raid 5 to 8 disks, during the configuration for boot sequence I  cannot see the option to select boot 2 as raid disk (only HUU, SCU, IBA  GE SLOT 0100 v1382, UEFI: Built-in EFI Shell). I have checked the TRC1  and it is different.

Best regards

Daniel

[Daniel Laden]

Which is the difference between ISOs below? 

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 GA Install CD

Cisco Custom Image for ESXi 5.0 U1 GA Install CD

These are the VMWare ISO with the cisco drivers added to the ISO.  Refer to VMWare for difference between 5.0 and 5.0U1.  Cisco does not provide release notes on the difference between these ISO.  Once your OS is installed you will still want to review the interoperability matrix to confirm the driver is the appropriate release for OS and CIMC version.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10477/prod_technical_reference_list.html

The HUU or Host Upgrade Utility is used to simplify the firmware upgrade of all components within the server to a BU tested set of firmware.  It does install an OS on the server.

End-User Guides - Host Upgrade Utilty

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10493/products_user_guide_list.html

There was a bug with early firmware where launching the webbios utility would remove the array from the boot order.  Access the BIOS and add the array contoller back to the boot order in the appropriate spot.

Thank You,

Dan Laden

Cisco PDI Data Center

Want to know more about how PDI can assist you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OAJrkMfN3c

http://www.cisco.com/go/pdihelpdesk