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UCS + Nimble storage + VMware - guide wanted

ross2000
Level 1
Level 1

We've got HPE Nimble storage that we need to attach to our existing Cisco UCS + VMware environment, which currently runs off different storage. I initially thought we'd get some guidance along with the Nimble, but HPE's advice was mostly "go talk to Cisco." We're looking for some basic documentation/guide/example of best practices for basic iSCSI connections between the two.

 

Googling so far has turned up a document called "Nimble Storage SmartStack Getting Started Guide Cisco UCS and VMware ESXi5" that seems vaguely useful, but as you can tell from the title it's ESXi 5, and the document is from 7 years ago. I've got to think there are newer examples, but we're not having much luck finding any online. I'm trying to search here on the forums, too, but am mostly running into really old articles.

 

Where should I be looking for a design guide for this stuff? Do they not make them anymore, or is it hidden from search engines behind login requirements? Any nudge in the right direction would be appreciated, thanks.

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Wes Austin
Cisco Employee
Cisco Employee

For booting from iSCSI, this document will help explain the UCS side of things. I would imagine the getting started guide you mentioned is applicable as well for at least getting basic connectivity setup.

 

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/servers-unified-computing/ucs-manager/116003-iscsi-ucs-config-00.html 

peter@ubc
Level 1
Level 1

Late to the thread, but you can search for SmartStack in the Design Zone or refer to the links half-way down this page:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/smartstack_unified_flash_vsphere65_design.html

 

They are not ESXi 5 old, but are unfortunately not the newest.

CS700 and AF7000 docs are for FC.   CS300 docs are for iSCSI but for UCS Mini and ESXi 6.0.

 

If you are looking for something newer for iSCSI and 7.0.  The design concepts are similar, but for FlashStack (Pure):

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/UCS_CVDs/flashstack_vsi_vmware_vsphere_70.html

 

All the designs call for separate iSCSI-A and iSCSI-B fabrics on standard vSwitch and VMkernel ports backed by dedicated single server NIC each side.  No network port binding on the host side.

 

You would also want to install HPE Storage Connection Manager (NCM) for VMware on your ESXi hosts for path selection policy, and various no-op and timeout settings.

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