Skip to main content
FlexPod

Cisco UCS C-Series rack server deployment procedure

Contributors
PDFs

The following section provides a detailed procedure for configuring a Cisco UCS C-Series standalone rack server for use in the FlexPod Express configuration.

Perform initial Cisco UCS C-Series standalone server setup for Cisco Integrated Management Server

Complete these steps for the initial setup of the CIMC interface for Cisco UCS C-Series standalone servers.

The following table lists the information needed to configure CIMC for each Cisco UCS C-Series standalone server.

Detail Detail value

CIMC IP address

<<cimc_ip>>

CIMC subnet mask

<<cimc_netmask>>

CIMC default gateway

<<cimc_gateway>>
Note The CIMC version used in this validation is CIMC 3.1.3(g).

All servers

  1. Attach the Cisco keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) dongle (provided with the server) to the KVM port on the front of the server. Plug a VGA monitor and USB keyboard into the appropriate KVM dongle ports.

  2. Power on the server and press F8 when prompted to enter the CIMC configuration.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  3. In the CIMC configuration utility, set the following options:

    • Network interface card (NIC) mode:

      • Dedicated [X]

    • IP (Basic):

      • IPV4: [X]

      • DHCP enabled: [ ]

      • CIMC IP: <<cimc_ip>>

      • Prefix/Subnet: <<cimc_netmask>>

      • Gateway: <<cimc_gateway>>

    • VLAN (Advanced): Leave cleared to disable VLAN tagging.

      • NIC redundancy

      • None: [X]

        Error: Missing Graphic Image

  4. Press F1 to see additional settings.

    • Common properties:

      • Host name: <<esxi_host_name>>

      • Dynamic DNS: [ ]

      • Factory defaults: Leave cleared.

    • Default user (basic):

      • Default password: <<admin_password>>

      • Reenter password: <<admin_password>>

      • Port properties: Use default values.

      • Port profiles: Leave cleared.

        Error: Missing Graphic Image

  5. Press F10 to save the CIMC interface configuration.

  6. After the configuration is saved, press Esc to exit.

Configure Cisco UCS C-Series servers iSCSI boot

In this FlexPod Express configuration, the VIC1387 is used for iSCSI boot.

The following table lists the information needed to configure iSCSI boot.

Note Italicized font indicates variables that are unique for each ESXi host.
Detail Detail value

ESXi host initiator A name

<<var_ucs_initiator_name_A>>

ESXi host iSCSI-A IP

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiA_ip>>

ESXi host iSCSI-A network mask

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiA_mask>>

ESXi host iSCSI A default gateway

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiA_gateway>>

ESXi host initiator B name

<<var_ucs_initiator_name_B>>

ESXi host iSCSI-B IP

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiB_ip>>

ESXi host iSCSI-B network mask

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiB_mask>>

ESXi host iSCSI-B gateway

<<var_esxi_host_iscsiB_gateway>>

IP address iscsi_lif01a

IP address iscsi_lif02a

IP address iscsi_lif01b

IP address iscsi_lif02b

Infra_SVM IQN

Boot order configuration

To set the boot order configuration, complete the following steps:

  1. From the CIMC interface browser window, click the Server tab and select BIOS.

  2. Click Configure Boot Order and then click OK.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  3. Configure the following devices by clicking the device under Add Boot Device, and going to the Advanced tab.

    • Add Virtual Media

      • Name: KVM-CD-DVD

      • Subtype: KVM MAPPED DVD

      • State: Enabled

      • Order: 1

    • Add iSCSI Boot.

      • Name: iSCSI-A

      • State: Enabled

      • Order: 2

      • Slot: MLOM

      • Port: 0

    • Click Add iSCSI Boot.

      • Name: iSCSI-B

      • State: Enabled

      • Order: 3

      • Slot: MLOM

      • Port: 1

  4. Click Add Device.

  5. Click Save Changes and then click Close.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  6. Reboot the server to boot with your new boot order.

Disable RAID controller (if present)

Complete the following steps if your C-Series server contains a RAID controller. A RAID controller is not needed in the boot from SAN configuration. Optionally, you can also physically remove the RAID controller from the server.

  1. Click BIOS on the left navigation pane in CIMC.

  2. Select Configure BIOS.

  3. Scroll down to PCIe Slot:HBA Option ROM.

  4. If the value is not already disabled, set it to disabled.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

Configure Cisco VIC1387 for iSCSI boot

The following configuration steps are for the Cisco VIC 1387 for iSCSI boot.

Create iSCSI vNICs

  1. Click Add to create a vNIC.

  2. In the Add vNIC section, enter the following settings:

    • Name: iSCSI-vNIC-A

    • MTU: 9000

    • Default VLAN: <<var_iscsi_vlan_a>>

    • VLAN Mode: TRUNK

    • Enable PXE boot: Check

      Error: Missing Graphic Image

  3. Click Add vNIC and then click OK.

  4. Repeat the process to add a second vNIC.

    1. Name the vNIC iSCSI-vNIC-B.

    2. Enter <<var_iscsi_vlan_b>> as the VLAN.

    3. Set the uplink port to 1.

  5. Select the vNIC iSCSI-vNIC-A on the left.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  6. Under iSCSI Boot Properties, enter the initiator details:

    • Name: <<var_ucsa_initiator_name_a>>

    • IP address: <<var_esxi_hostA_iscsiA_ip>>

    • Subnet mask: <<var_esxi_hostA_iscsiA_mask>>

    • Gateway: <<var_esxi_hostA_iscsiA_gateway>>

      Error: Missing Graphic Image

  7. Enter the primary target details.

    • Name: IQN number of infra-SVM

    • IP address: IP address of iscsi_lif01a

    • Boot LUN: 0

  8. Enter the secondary target details.

    • Name: IQN number of infra-SVM

    • IP address: IP address of iscsi_lif02a

    • Boot LUN: 0

      You can obtain the storage IQN number by running the vserver iscsi show command.

      Note Be sure to record the IQN names for each vNIC. You need them for a later step.

      Error: Missing Graphic Image

  9. Click Configure iSCSI.

  10. Select the vNIC iSCSI-vNIC- B and click the iSCSI Boot button located on the top of the Host Ethernet Interfaces section.

  11. Repeat the process to configure iSCSI-vNIC-B.

  12. Enter the initiator details.

    • Name: <<var_ucsa_initiator_name_b>>

    • IP address: <<var_esxi_hostb_iscsib_ip>>

    • Subnet mask: <<var_esxi_hostb_iscsib_mask>>

    • Gateway: <<var_esxi_hostb_iscsib_gateway>>

  13. Enter the primary target details.

    • Name: IQN number of infra-SVM

    • IP address: IP address of iscsi_lif01b

    • Boot LUN: 0

  14. Enter the secondary target details.

    • Name: IQN number of infra-SVM

    • IP address: IP address of iscsi_lif02b

    • Boot LUN: 0

      You can obtain the storage IQN number by using the vserver iscsi show command.

      Note Be sure to record the IQN names for each vNIC. You need them for a later step.

  15. Click Configure ISCSI.

  16. Repeat this process to configure iSCSI boot for Cisco UCS server B.

Configure vNICs for ESXi

  1. From the CIMC interface browser window, click Inventory and then click Cisco VIC adapters on the right pane.

  2. Under Adapter Cards, select Cisco UCS VIC 1387 and then select the vNICs underneath.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  3. Select eth0 and click Properties.

  4. Set the MTU to 9000. Click Save Changes.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for eth1, verifying that the uplink port is set to 1 for eth1.

    Error: Missing Graphic Image

    Note This procedure must be repeated for each initial Cisco UCS Server node and each additional Cisco UCS Server node added to the environment.

Next: NetApp AFF Storage Deployment Procedure (Part 2)