Discussion: VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration

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Dropit	VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration May 30 2008, 1:53 AM EDT Have a few questions related to setting up ESX on blades; 1. VMWare recommend that separate physical NIC ports be used for the Service Console, VMotion and Virtual NIC's meaning a minimum of 3 ports on the server. Generally speaking we would normally 2 ports for the Virtual NIC's and run these to separate switches for redundancy. So we currently use a minumum of 4 ports per server (non-blades). Are others only utilising the two onboard NIC's (if so how are ports being configured in ESX?) or are people adding a mezzanine card to the blades to gain 4 ports (and another IO Module in the chassis)? 2. I want to make sure I have this next bit correct... using the passthrough IO modules (either ethernet or fibre) on the m1000e chassis provides a one to one relationship with the ports on the blades. Meaning that <Blade 1, Ethernet Port 1> is mirrored at <IO Module A1 Port 1>, <Blade 1, Ethernet Port 2> is mirrored at <IO Module A2, Port 1>, etc. Is this right (and similar for FC with the FC mezzanine card installed on the blades)? Appreciate any feedback. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you? Keyword tags: VMWare ESX blades network
ChadFenner	1. RE: VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration May 30 2008, 3:29 PM EDT Dropit - Let me answer both of your questions from my perspective as the Dell Blade Product Manager. 1. Generally speaking I haven't seen VmWare strongly recommend three physical NICs in a while. Vmware software does tend to like having it but as it can virtualize itself as of VI3.0 you only have to have the NICs your bandwidth requires. That being said I would say that most Dell blade customers do order at least 1 extra NIC mezzanine card to have 4 total NICs per blade plus either another NIC mezzanine for iSCSI storage or an HBA for FC storage. 2. Each port is completely separately routed to each switch. All 6 ports then go to the 6 switches completely by themselves. This is done for redundancy. If you have the pass through IO modules you would then get full bandwidth throughput out the back of the enclosure. Keep in mind though that part of the true value of blades is the cable and IO consolidation. Most people have 2 to 1 port aggregation right outside of the enclosure and you can save a great deal of space, cables, power and money by integrating the switches. Chad Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
Dropit	2. RE: VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration Jun 2 2008, 9:21 PM EDT \| Post edited: Jun 2 2008, 9:21 PM EDT Thanks Chad, I understand and agree that reduction in cabling is a particular advantage using blades and we intend to do this. However, in respect of using the passthrough modules was I correct in my description? I'm not clear from your response if I have it right or not... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ChadFenner	3. RE: VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration Jun 3 2008, 9:16 AM EDT \| Post edited: Jun 3 2008, 9:16 AM EDT Dropit - Sorry I wasn't clear. Yes your description is correct. Pass-Throughs are designed to be 1 port into the module, and 1 port out. Tell me if you have other questions on this. Post reply 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?
rashid_info	4. RE: VMWare ESX on Blades (m1000e + m600) and network configuration Sep 13 2009, 5:41 PM EDT Hi, I have one question, I'm having M1000e Chassis with 7 M610 blade server , I can use 2 network card on each blade server, For you information I'm using 2 blade server as a oracle RAC server, so 1 network for public & other network for private. As I understand from the chassis is 1 network port of each blade is connected with 1 M6220 switch & other network port of all blade server are connected with other M6220 switch. No my question is , can I use 2nd network port on all the blade for different subnet ???????????? Note:Our vendor engineer also told me if your using private network in 2 blade server then you cannot make the other M6220 switch as redundant. Please help me out from this issue. Thanks, Rashid Post reply Do you find this valuable?