1. Download Cisco Nexus 1000V software from Cisco.com
2. Decide whether to deploy in Layer 2 or Layer 3 Control mode (Layer 3 is recommended)
3. Gather the following data:
• Domain ID
• Mgmt IP, Subnet, and Gateway for the VSM
• Admin password for the VSM
• For Layer 3 Control:
• Decide whether mgmt and L3 Control port will be unified or separate
• If separate, IP addresses for L3 Control port for each ESXi host
• For Layer 2 Control:
• Control / Packet VLANs
4. Choose a vSphere Host / Cluster to deploy the VSM

For additional information, see the following document:

Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

1. Setup VMware vCenter (VC) Server and Virtual Infrastructure (VI) Client (version 4.1 / 5.0 / 5.1 – including updates for each version)
2. (Optional) Set up VMware Update Manager (VUM) (version 4.1 / 5.0 / 5.1 – including updates for each version)
3. Setup VMware vSphere ESXi Servers (version 4.1 / 5.0 / 5.1 – including patches and updates for each version)

For additional information, see the following document:

VMware Documentation

1. Install VSM on the Host / Cluster Using ISO / OVA / OVF

a. Configure the VSM as Primary on the vSphere / ESX host using the manual installation process

b. Provide the following information:

• vCenter Server
• Management IP / Subnet / Gateway
• Domain ID
• Admin password


2. Choose L2 or L3 mode

L2

• Set Control / Packet VLAN (must be configured as system VLAN on the uplink)
• Register VC Plugin on vCenter
• Create VC (SVS) connection from VSM CLI
• Create and configure uplink port profile

L3

Mgmt0

• Set L3 mode as Mgmt
• Register VC Plugin on vCenter
• Create VC (SVS) connection from VSM CLI
• Create port profile with capability l3control (using a system VLAN)
• Create and configure uplink port profile

Control0

• Set Control0 IP / Subnet / Gateway (must be in a different Subnet than mgmt0)
• Set L3 mode as control
• Register VC Plugin on vCenter
• Create VC (SVS) connection from VSM CLI
• Create port profile with capability l3control (using a system VLAN)
• Create and configure uplink port profile


3. Configuring the High Availability (HA) environment


• Deploy Secondary VSM to complete HA Pair
• Specify matching Control / Management / Portgroups as Primary
• Specify Secondary Role and Matching Domain ID
• Validate HA Pair synchronization
• If using a DRS Cluster, specify Primary / Secondary anti-affinity rules

For additional information, see the following document:

Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

Option 1 (Select Cisco Nexus 1000V Complete Installation -> Standard mode)

Provide the following information (L3 mode only):

• vCenter IP address and port number
• vCenter user name and password
• ESXi Host IP address, datastore for Primary VSM
• ESXi Host IP address, datastore for Secondary VSM
• Virtual Machine for VSM and OVA image location
• VSM IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway
• Domain ID
• Management VLAN ID of ESXi host

Option 2 (Select Cisco Nexus 1000V Complete Installation -> Custom mode)

Provide the following information (L2 or L3 mode):

• vCenter IP address and port number
• vCenter user name and password
• ESXi Host IP address, vSwitch which has ESXi Management interface for Primary VSM
• ESXi Host IP address, vSwitch which has ESXi Management interface for Secondary VSM
• Switch name
• Admin password
• Virtual Machine for VSM and OVA image location
• VSM IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway
• Data Center name
• Domain ID
• Management VLAN ID of ESXi host
• Create new port group or use existing port groups

Option 3 (Select Virtual Ethernet Installation)

Provide the following information:

• vCenter IP address and port number
• vCenter user name and password
• VSM IP and VSM admin password

Install VIBs:

• Install VIB option (installs VEM software and uses only VEM installer)

or

• Install VIB and add host to N1K DVS option (installs VEM software and adds host to DVS.
  This option uses VMware Update Manager if installed and enabled, otherwise it will use
  VEM installer)

Option 4 (Select vCenter Server Connection)

Provide the following information:

• vCenter IP address and port number
• vCenter user name and password
• VSM IP address and VSM admin password
• SVS Data Center name

For additional information, see the following document:

Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)

1. Install VEM has the following options:

Option 1 (VUM: VMware Update Manager )

• Configure the VMware VUM production URLs
• Add the host to DVS from vCenter UI (assign pNIC(s) to appropriate uplink profile)
• VUM picks the right VIB/VEM and installs VEM on the host automatically
• Verify module insertion on VSM using ‘show module’ command
  
  (For L3 mode - Use ESXi mgmt vmk0 as L3 interface or create vmknic on each VEM Host:  Use the L3 capability port profile for the same on the Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS)

Option 2 (Manual)

• Manually install VEM by logging into vSphere host or use vCLI to install the VEM
• Add host to DVS from vCenter UI (assign pNIC(s) to appropriate uplink profile)
• Verify module insertion on VSM using ‘show module’ command
  
  (For L3 mode - Use ESXi mgmt vmk0 as L3 interface or create vmknic on each VEM Host:  Use the L3 capability port profile for the same on the Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS)

Option 3 (VEM install using Installer App: Select Virtual Ethernet Installation)

Provide the following information:

• vCenter IP address and port number
• vCenter user name and password
• VSM IP and VSM admin password

Install VIBs:

• Install VIB option (installs VEM software and uses only VEM installer)

or

• Install VIB and add host to N1K DVS option (installs VEM software and adds host to DVS.
  This option uses VMware Update Manager if installed and enabled, otherwise it will use
  VEM installer)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(2.1)