Configure CIMC and Install ESXi on BE6K/7K in Case of Catastrophic Failure

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Updated:May 18, 2018

Document ID:213343

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Background Information

Process to Follow

Part 1. CIMC Configuration

Part 2. ESXi Install

Verify

Troubleshoot

Introduction

This document describes the process in order to install Elastic Sky X Integrated (ESXi) and configure Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) on BE6/7K server in an event of full hardware failure or a full server replacement. This document helps to set up the server from scratch.

Prerequisites

Requirements

Cisco recommends that you have knowledge of these topics:

Physical access to server in order to connect keyboard and monitor
Need access to Keyboard and Monitor
CIMC Dongle to connect Monitor and Keyboard
Free account in VMware in order to download Cisco Customer Image

Components Used

This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, ensure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Background Information

BE6K/7K are packaged solution i.e. ESXi is pre-installed on the server. At times, you can run into issue with BE6k/7K where you have to replace all the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or you are not able to recover the data or Virtual Drive (VD) failed or full server replacement, then you have to install ESXi on the new hardware. This document describe the process to follow in order to install the ESXi and configure CIMC in such an event

Process to Follow

Procedure can be split into two parts:

Part 1. Configure CIMC and create VD.

Connect keyboard and monitor to the console of the Unified Computing System (UCS) server with the Keyboard/Video/Mouse (KVM) dongle
Power on the server
Configure CIMC IP
Ensure that all the physical drives are in a good state
Create a VD in RAID 5

Part 2. Install ESXi on the created VD.

Download the Cisco Custom ISO® from VMware
Log into CIMC and Launch KVM Console. (Ensure JRE is installed on the PC)
Mount Virtual ISO with the use of KVM Console
Reboot the UCS server from KVM, press F6 on start-up
Choose Virtual CD/DVD, press Enter
Proceed with the ESXi Install
From Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) press F2, configure ESXi IP, subnet, VLAN (Optional)
Access the ESXi IP from Vsphere Client

Part 1. CIMC Configuration

Procedure with screenshots.

Step 1. Connect keyboard and monitor to the console of the UCS server with the use of the KVM dongle as shown in the image.

Step 2. Power on the server.

Step 3. At the Power On splash screen Press F8 as shown in the image.

Step 4. Configure CIMC for connectivity as shown in the image.

Once inside the CIMC utility, you have to configure this:

CIMC IP address
Default gateway
Set the password for CIMC

Step 5. Create VD.

In order to create the VD, you have to do this:

Launch CIMC
Navigate to Storage
Navigate to Storage >Controller Info
Navigate to Controller Info > Create Virtual Drive from Unused Physical Drives
Select Raid as 5
Select HDD
Note: You need at least 3 HDD for Raid 5.
Set name and properties
Click on Create Virtual Drive

1. Launch CICM from a web browser, Accept all the certs alerts that you get as shown in the image.

2. Navigate to Storage as shown in the image.

3. Navigate to Storage > Controller Info as shown in the image.

4. Navigate to Controller Info > Create Virtual Drive from Unused Physical Drives as shown in the image.

5. Select RAID Level as 5from the drop down option as shown in the image.

6. Select HDDas shown in the image.

Note: You need at least 3 HDD for Raid 5.

7. Set Name and Properties as shown in the image.

8. Click Create Virtual Drive as shown in the image.

9. Verify that the Drive is created as shown in the images.

Part 2. ESXi Install

Step 1. Download the Cisco Custom ISO® from VMware as shown in the image.

Step 2. Log into CIMC and Launch KVM Console. (Ensure JRE 1.7 or higher is installed on the PC if you use Java based). In this case, you use HTML based KVM as shown in the image.