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FlexPod

FlexPod Express Topologies

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This section describes the example topologies for FlexPod Express.

UCS X-Series Direct with direct attached FC and IP-based SAN

The following figure shows an UCS X-Series Direct and direct-attached ASA sample topology for IP-based and FC-based SAN.

UCS X-Series Direct and direct-attached ASA topology for IP-based and FC-based SAN

Connectivity requirements for this topology include:

  • ASA cluster connectivity: For a 2-node ASA cluster, the controllers can be directly connected together with cables without using cluster switches.

  • Storage Ethernet connectivity: The NetApp storage controllers can be connected directly to the embedded Fabric Interconnects. The two storage controllers in ASA have connectivity to two independent IP SAN fabric provided by FI A and FI B.

  • FI network uplink connectivity: For IP-based SAN connectivity, the uplink Nexus switches are not involved in the SAN data paths. SAN IO goes directly from the UCS Compute nodes to ASA storage using their connections to FI Aor FI B. As as result, existing top-of-rack switches that supports VLAN and vPC can be utilized to provide external network access to the FlexPod SAN solution environment.

  • For FC-based SAN connectivity, the UCS FI (FC )ports need to be configured as breakout ports.

  • Cisco UCS should be configured in FC switching mode when used for a FC-based SAN solution.

The Cisco UCS X-Series Direct can also utilize a switch attached storage similar to the regular X-Series but using the embedded fabric interconnects instead of the external fabric interconnects.

For more information about this configuration, see FlexPod SAN Solution with Cisco UCS X-Series Direct and NetApp ASA.

Note

The above sample topology refers to a direct attached storage solution using NetApp ASA. However, the same topology can be used for NetApp AFF and FAS as well.

For an IP-based direct-attached NAS storage configuration using NetApp AFF or FAS storage, the uplink Nexus switches will need to be properly configured to support certain failure scenarios. Refer to the below link for additional configuration information.

https://www.netapp.com/pdf.html?item=/media/22621-nva-1154-DESIGN.pdf

https://www.netapp.com/pdf.html?item=/media/21938-nva-1154-DEPLOY.pdf

UCS C-Series servers switch-attached IP-based storage

The following figure shows an Cisco UCS C-Series standalone and NetApp AFF.

Cisco UCS C-Series standalone servers and NetApp AFF

Connectivity requirements for this topology include:

  • AFF cluster connectivity: For a 2-node AFF cluster, the controllers can be directly connected together with cables without using cluster switches.

  • Storage Ethernet connectivity: NetApp storage controllers must be directly connected to the Cisco Nexus switches.

  • Virtual port channels (vPCs) are required to connect the Cisco Nexus switches to the NetApp storage controllers.

  • The solution can be scaled upto 5 UCS C-series standalone servers requiring two switch ports on each switch per server.

The Cisco UCS C-Series can be managed via CIMC or Cisco intersight standalone management.

Note The above sample topology refers to a direct attached storage solution using NetApp AFF. However, the same topology can be used for NetApp ASA and FAS as well.

For more information about this configuration, see FlexPod express for VMware vSphere 8.0 with Cisco UCS C-Series Standalone and NetApp AFF.