Comments on: Using IP-Based Storage with VMware vSphere on Cisco UCS http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/ The weblog of an IT pro specializing in virtualization, storage, and servers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Burak http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-51301 Burak Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:53:53 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-51301 hi all, i wonder can i use Cat 3750 for connecting my 6120 interconnects to ethernet network?if i can then which SFPs i must use? thanks. hi all,

i wonder can i use Cat 3750 for connecting my 6120 interconnects to ethernet network?if i can then which SFPs i must use?

thanks.

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-49883 slowe Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:11:45 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-49883 Robert Maxwell and others, for those interested in the latest version/edition of the Cisco UCS book, here's what you need: http://amzn.to/eRTmn8 This is the updated version that replaces the earlier "black book" available through Lulu. As with the first edition, this version is most definitely worth reading. Robert Maxwell and others, for those interested in the latest version/edition of the Cisco UCS book, here’s what you need:

http://amzn.to/eRTmn8

This is the updated version that replaces the earlier “black book” available through Lulu. As with the first edition, this version is most definitely worth reading.

]]> By: Robert Maxwell http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-49876 Robert Maxwell Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:30:22 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-49876 I also would like to know the name of the UCS book as LULU doesn't have it. Thanks.. I also would like to know the name of the UCS book as LULU doesn’t have it.

Thanks..

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-49798 slowe Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:25:14 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-49798 Richard, you could use Catalyst 3750s with 10GbE uplinks to handle IP-based traffic out of the UCS. You'd also need to deploy MDS (or some other FC switch) to handle the FC traffic coming out of the UCS. Until the release of UCS 1.4 (just within the last couple of days), you couldn't run FCoE out of the UCS and you had to use FC. Even now, you might still use to use FC northbound out of the UCS instead of FCoE, which means that a combination of 10GbE-equipped Catalyst 3750s and MDS Fibre Channel switches will work. Shawn, it's been replaced with a newer version. You should be able to find it on Amazon. Richard, you could use Catalyst 3750s with 10GbE uplinks to handle IP-based traffic out of the UCS. You’d also need to deploy MDS (or some other FC switch) to handle the FC traffic coming out of the UCS. Until the release of UCS 1.4 (just within the last couple of days), you couldn’t run FCoE out of the UCS and you had to use FC. Even now, you might still use to use FC northbound out of the UCS instead of FCoE, which means that a combination of 10GbE-equipped Catalyst 3750s and MDS Fibre Channel switches will work.

Shawn, it’s been replaced with a newer version. You should be able to find it on Amazon.

]]> By: Shawn Saunders http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-49797 Shawn Saunders Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:33:05 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-49797 The book mentioned seems to be no longer available. Would you share the name so we can look elsewhere? The book mentioned seems to be no longer available. Would you share the name so we can look elsewhere?

]]> By: Richard Gray http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-47586 Richard Gray Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:14:18 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-47586 Hi Scott, Couple of questions re: the UCS. I have finished the spec for a HP Blade system using VirtualConnect but I am now looking at this Cisco kit also. However I know little about it right now. Could you use a couple of Catalyst switches instead of the Nexus 5000's northbound of the UCS? Say 3750's with 10GbE links. That would take care of my IP storage and I could aggregate ports from each 3750 for connection to my SAN (2x1GbE links from a NetApp as a VIF per head - or possibly invest in 10GbE cards for it). I also use FC for RDMs, how would I go about hooking this into my NetApp? Is this when I would need to start using FCoE? But, I supose my 3750's wouldnt support this either? I know our budget wont stretch to include 2xnexus 5000s! I'm a little lost here. Many Thanks, Rich. Hi Scott,

Couple of questions re: the UCS. I have finished the spec for a HP Blade system using VirtualConnect but I am now looking at this Cisco kit also. However I know little about it right now.

Could you use a couple of Catalyst switches instead of the Nexus 5000′s northbound of the UCS? Say 3750′s with 10GbE links. That would take care of my IP storage and I could aggregate ports from each 3750 for connection to my SAN (2x1GbE links from a NetApp as a VIF per head – or possibly invest in 10GbE cards for it).

I also use FC for RDMs, how would I go about hooking this into my NetApp? Is this when I would need to start using FCoE? But, I supose my 3750′s wouldnt support this either? I know our budget wont stretch to include 2xnexus 5000s! I’m a little lost here.

Many Thanks,
Rich.

]]> By: Saju http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-47560 Saju Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:32:11 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-47560 Scott, I came to know internally from Cisco that we have tested EMC storage directly connecting to FI. "Direct connection has not been tested and is not a supported topology at this time outside of EMC storage where the testing has been done." Regards Saju Scott,

I came to know internally from Cisco that we have tested EMC storage directly connecting to FI.

“Direct connection has not been tested and is not a supported topology at this time outside of EMC storage where the testing has been done.”

Regards
Saju

]]> By: Chris http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-47513 Chris Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:34:04 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-47513 For NetApp (FAS 3140) why cant I just trunk the northbound connection of the 6100 into a VLAN truck connection on the NetApp? Its my understanding from Cisco that the northbound ports are trunk ports and not access ports and so your storage must be able to support turnk ports, which NetApp does. For NetApp (FAS 3140) why cant I just trunk the northbound connection of the 6100 into a VLAN truck connection on the NetApp?

Its my understanding from Cisco that the northbound ports are trunk ports and not access ports and so your storage must be able to support turnk ports, which NetApp does.

]]> By: Sal Collora http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-47455 Sal Collora Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:03:45 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-47455 Scott, In your picture you have the FIs redundantly connected to the upstream 5Ks. I am not sure these connections are required or are useful. With the failover feature of the FIs, it's my understanding that you might actually want them with LEFT-LEFT and RIGHT-RIGHT connections. The failover feature, to my knowledge, will sense an upstream failure, and take down the correct side. It would be interesting to couple this feature with an upstream vPC configured on the 5Ks, and an etherchannel configured on the FIs. I intend to test this when my lab is up and running, but it's something to consider. All of my designs use a single (or channel) link configured LEFT-LEFT and RIGHT-RIGHT. What do you think? Scott,

In your picture you have the FIs redundantly connected to the upstream 5Ks. I am not sure these connections are required or are useful. With the failover feature of the FIs, it’s my understanding that you might actually want them with LEFT-LEFT and RIGHT-RIGHT connections. The failover feature, to my knowledge, will sense an upstream failure, and take down the correct side. It would be interesting to couple this feature with an upstream vPC configured on the 5Ks, and an etherchannel configured on the FIs. I intend to test this when my lab is up and running, but it’s something to consider. All of my designs use a single (or channel) link configured LEFT-LEFT and RIGHT-RIGHT. What do you think?

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2010/02/04/using-ip-based-storage-with-vmware-vsphere-on-cisco-ucs/comment-page-1/#comment-47436 slowe Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:36:44 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/?p=1815#comment-47436 Jose, The book mentioned is this one: http://www.lulu.com/content/6579826 It was written by the engineers who helped to design UCS when it was still referred to as "Project California". Definitely a must-read if you are going to be working with UCS in any significance. Hope this helps! Jose,

The book mentioned is this one:

http://www.lulu.com/content/6579826

It was written by the engineers who helped to design UCS when it was still referred to as “Project California”. Definitely a must-read if you are going to be working with UCS in any significance.

Hope this helps!

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