vlan and ports for vmware
Hi Experts,
I have a vsphere system running and noe I need to configure the SAN stack and the vlans.
How to setup the vlans in my LAN switches ?
How to setup the SAN stack with the port configuration ?
I have a vsphere system running and noe I need to configure the SAN stack and the vlans.
How to setup the vlans in my LAN switches ?
How to setup the SAN stack with the port configuration ?
bgoering
I would need a bit more info about what kind of switches, SAN, etc. you are implementing
You might want to look at http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004048 to get you started
Are you presenting iSCSI LUNs or Fibre?
It would also be best to create a vLAN that will only be used for iSCSI traffic.
It would also be best to create a vLAN that will only be used for iSCSI traffic.
ASKER
we are using iscsi and we have to seperate stacked iscsi switches.
The network should be seperate from lan.
How to setup the vlan on my LAN switch ?
How to setup the SAN stack ?
The network should be seperate from lan.
How to setup the vlan on my LAN switch ?
How to setup the SAN stack ?
What SAN d you have?
What switch manufacturer do you have?
Are you the network admin for the switches?
What switch manufacturer do you have?
Are you the network admin for the switches?
Yes - again we will need more detail before we can help much. What kind of switch - cisco, hp, dell, something else? Same info on iSCSI - understand it is a separate stack, but what kind of switch? Does it support jumbo frames? Will you be trunking multiple NICs or do you have some kind of hardware HBA for iSCSI. Need all that detail in order to help.
ASKER
oh sorry I forget.
We are using for the SAN stack, the CISCO 3750G switches.
And the SAN is an Equallogic from Dell, the PS4000.
I will use multiple nics to configure also a redundancy.
We are using for the SAN stack, the CISCO 3750G switches.
And the SAN is an Equallogic from Dell, the PS4000.
I will use multiple nics to configure also a redundancy.
Well that is a start - the article to the vmware kb I posted above has instructions for configuraing an ether channel on a cisco switch. You need to create the ether channel and assign vlans to it, also assign the vlans to whatever ports you multiple nics will plug into, then assign those ports to the ether channel.
A good optimization for iSCSI is jumbo frames, the 3750g will support that, but you have to make sure your nics and your storage also supports it. Try to get it running with normal 1500 MTU first, then can try jumbo frames later.
On the vmware side create your vswitch and assign the nics to it. Create a vmkernel port for iSCSI. Set you nics for active / standby if you are only looking for reduncancy.
A good optimization for iSCSI is jumbo frames, the 3750g will support that, but you have to make sure your nics and your storage also supports it. Try to get it running with normal 1500 MTU first, then can try jumbo frames later.
On the vmware side create your vswitch and assign the nics to it. Create a vmkernel port for iSCSI. Set you nics for active / standby if you are only looking for reduncancy.
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ASKER
ok I will check this
ASKER
ok the vlans and ports are done.
But now I have a question regarding jumbo frames.
Can I use MTU 9000 on the SAN stack ?
But now I have a question regarding jumbo frames.
Can I use MTU 9000 on the SAN stack ?
Yes, provided the switch, san device, and nic in your server all support it. It has to be enabled everywhere on the particular network or vlan where you wish to use it.
ASKER
do you mean the physical nics ?
Now we set it to the vswitches and the sanstack and the SAN.
Now we set it to the vswitches and the sanstack and the SAN.
I guess one other thing to consider is that if this is the free edition I don't believe that jumbo frames are supported in ESXi - at least it wasn't on 4.0. (http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1012454)
However if you have a fully licensed version (Essentials or higher) see http://jibbysununix.blogspot.com/2010/06/enabling-jumbo-frames-om-esxi-through.html for the process.
And yes - I meant the physical NICs, however if you have a server class Gigabit NIC I would pretty much bet it is supported. If not you may need to do some research to find out.
However if you have a fully licensed version (Essentials or higher) see http://jibbysununix.blogspot.com/2010/06/enabling-jumbo-frames-om-esxi-through.html for the process.
And yes - I meant the physical NICs, however if you have a server class Gigabit NIC I would pretty much bet it is supported. If not you may need to do some research to find out.
ASKER
it is a very general answer and explaination.