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Networking design assistance needed

Hey all, I have a few questions posted here regarding our new VMWare ESXi environment but wanted to also make sure I get the networking right since this will be a good chance to re-do the network if I need to. Excuse the MS Paint drawing but I feel its easier to read/see sometimes. I also really wish I could post this in the networking and virtualization section..

Please note the details/legend to the left of the image

I plan on using Veeam or vSphere replication to take 15 minute snapshots to keep on the host that the VM resides on and also 15 minute replication to another host in case a host goes down

Note that all hosts will likely have local storage (no vSAN or SAN)

Looking for suggestions to make sure speed, latency, failover, etc. are as best as they should be.

I HAVE ATTACHED A DIAGRAM AS TO WHAT I THINK IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE
Diagram2.png

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Will you be using vMotion?

Will you be using VLANs ?

How many physical network interfaces per ESXi host ? (you'll need at least 2!)

s a

ASKER

Hi, with local storage I don't think I can use vmotion...I am very conflicted about vSAN and I believe you replied to another thread. SAN tech in general is SSOOO slow and needs much more infrastructure (sepearate vLANS, iSCSI, separate switches for the SANs), etc. and I just dont want to deal with all that.

I think 4 10GB interfaces per host, or 2 - 10GB and 2 - 1GB

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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

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gheist

You need vlans to logically isolate streams of vmotion, management and VM networks.

s a

ASKER

Andrew, could you draw me a quick diagram of how it would look in my environment with vSAN and how it connects to each other and the switches?

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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

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s a

ASKER

Thanks, but I am asking if you could maybe draw me a diagram of what it would look like, connections and cables and all in a vSAN network with 3 hosts, 2 firewalls, and 2-4 switches

gheist

Google search gave me this as a first result:
http://vmwaremine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-11-21-16h50_42.jpg

s a

ASKER

Wow...thanks.

So I see two switches, should these two switches be used only for the vSANs? Or can I plug other servers into it to?
We have a 192.168.1.x network for our PCs and servers...does the vSAN and VMs need its own subnet/network?

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

You can plug other devices in, but it's recommended and best practice, to have a storage switch dedicated to storage, or use a VLAN.

s a

ASKER

Ok great, I may need new switches anyways as the 3750X only has a module for 2 10GB ports, and they are both in use.
Andrew, I sent you a PM btw

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Andrew, I sent you a PM btw

I quickly saw it. I believe my office are dealing with it.

Andrew

Feroz Ahmed

Hi,

Instead of making use of 4 Switches ,2 switches are enough as a one single switch will have minimum of 24 ports and define VLANS for PCs and ESX Host VM Ware on switch and make another switch backup for the primary switch the latency and dependency of Packet flow will be the same on Switch ports as same bandwidth of Traffic is provided on each and every port of the switch and can even configure switch to restrict bandwidth depending on latency and dependency.

At a time as Failover is configured 2 ASA Firewalls are required one will act as Active/Primary and the second Firewall as Standby/Secondary. If something goes in Sleeping state one can switch from Active to Standby without interrupting Network.

s a

ASKER

Hi, do the hosts themselves need to be on a different VLAN and/or network than the rest of the servers and desktops? Right now everything is 192.168.1.x

Feroz Ahmed

Hi,

Only Hosts need to be on Different VLAN rest all is as mentioned above.

s a

ASKER

Thanks, will get back to you all