Cisco Nexus 1000V System Management Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV2(1.1)
Managing Server Connections
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Managing Server Connections

This chapter contains the following sections:

Information About Server Connections

In order to connect to vCenter Server or an ESX server, you must first define the connection in the Cisco Nexus 1000V including the following:

  • A connection name
  • The protocol used
  • The server IP address
  • The server DNS name
  • All communication with vCenter Server is secured by the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol.

Guidelines and Limitations

A single Virtual Supervisor Module (VSM) can only connect to one vCenter Server at a time. A single VSM cannot connect to multiple vCenter Servers at once.

Connecting to the vCenter Server

Before You Begin

Before beginning this procedure, you must be logged in to the CLI in EXEC mode.

You must know the following:

  • The datacenter name
  • The vCenter Server IP address or hostname.

You must be sure the following is set up:

  • The vCenter Server management station is installed and running.
  • The ESX servers are installed and running.
  • The Cisco Nexus 1000V appliance is installed.
  • The management port is configured.
  • The DNS is already configured if you are configuring a connection using a hostname.
  • An extension with vCenter Server has been registered. The extension includes the extension key and public certificate for the VSM. vCenter Server uses the extension to verify the authenticity of the request it receives from the VSM. For instructions about adding and registering an extension, see the Cisco Nexus 1000V Installation and Upgrade Guide.
Procedure
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 switch# configure terminal 

    Places you in global configuration mode.

     
    Step 2switch(config)# svs connection name 

    Places you in connection configuration mode for adding this connection between the Cisco Nexus 1000V and either a particular ESX server or vCenter Server. By using a name, information for multiple connections can be stored in the configuration.

     
    Step 3switch(config-svs-conn)# protocol vmware-vim 

    Use the http keyword to specify that this connection uses the VIM protocol. This command is stored locally.

    http: Specifies that the VIM protocol runs over HTTP. The default is to use HTTP over SSL (HTTPS).

     
    Step 4Do one of the following: 
    • If you are configuring an IP address, go to Step 5.
    • If you are configuring a hostname, go to Step 6.
     
    Step 5switch(config-svs-conn)# remote ip address ipaddress 

    Specifies the IP address of the ESX server or vCenter Server for this connection. This command is stored locally.

    Go to step 7 to configure the datacenter name.

     
    Step 6switch(config-svs-conn)# remote hostname hostname 

    Specifies the DNS name of the ESX server or vCenter Server for this connection. This command is stored locally.

    Note   

    DNS is already configured.

     
    Step 7switch(config-svs-conn)# remote port port number 

    Specifies the HTTP port number of vCenter for this connection. The default port number is 80. Though the communication is HTTPS, vCenter receives the packets on its HTTP port.

     
    Step 8switch(config-svs-conn)# vmware dvs datacenter-name name 

    Identifies the datacenter name in the vCenter Server where the Cisco Nexus 1000V is to be created as a distributed virtual switch (DVS). You can use this command before or after connecting. The datacenter name is stored locally.

     
    Step 9switch(config-svs-conn)# connect 

    Initiates the connection. If the username and password have not been configured for this connection, the you are prompted for a username and password.

    The default is no connect. There can be only one active connection at a time. If a previously defined connection is up, an error message appears and the command is rejected until you close the previous connection by entering no connect.

      
    switch# config t
switch(config)# svs connection VC
switch(config-svs-conn)# protocol vmware-vim
switch(config-svs-conn)# remote ip address 192.168.0.1 
switch(config-svs-conn)# remote port 80
switch(config-svs-conn)# vmware dvs datacenter-name Hamilton-DC
switch(config-svs-conn)# connect
switch# show svs connections 
connection VC:
    ip address: 192.168.0.1
    protocol: vmware-vim https
    certificate: default
    datacenter name: Hamilton-DC
    DVS uuid: ac 36 07 50 42 88 e9 ab-03 fe 4f dd d1 30 cc 5c
    config status: Enabled
    operational status: Connected
switch#

    Disconnecting From the vCenter Server

    You can disconnect from the vCenter Server, for example, after correcting a vCenter Server configuration.

    Before You Begin

    Before beginning this procedure, be sure you have done the following:

    • Logged in to the Cisco Nexus 1000V in EXEC mode.
    • Configured an Cisco Nexus 1000V connection
    • Connected the Cisco Nexus 1000V to vCenter Server/ESX.
    Procedure
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1switch# configure terminal  

      Places you in global configuration mode.

       
      Step 2switch(config)# svs connection name 

      Places you in a global configuration submode for the connection to vCenter Server.

       
      Step 3switch(config-svs-conn)# no connect 

      Closes the connection.

        
      switch# config t
switch# (config#) svs connection vcWest
switch# (config-svs-conn)# no connect

      Removing the DVS from the vCenter Server

      Use this procedure to remove the Distributed Virtual Switch (DVS) from the vCenter Server.

      Before You Begin

      Before beginning this procedure, be sure you have done the following:

      • Logged in to the Cisco Nexus 1000V in EXEC mode
      • Configured a connection to the vCenter Server
      • Connected the Cisco Nexus 1000V to vCenter Server/ESX
      • Checked that the server administrator has removed all of the hosts that are connected to the Cisco Nexus 1000V from the VI client. For more information, see the VMware documentation.
      Procedure
         Command or ActionPurpose
        Step 1switch# configure terminal  

        Places you in global configuration mode.

         
        Step 2switch(config)# svs connection name 

        Places you in a global configuration submode for the connection to vCenter Server.

         
        Step 3switch(config-svs-conn)# no vmware dvs 

        Removes the DVS associated with the specified connection from the vCenter Server.

          
        switch# config t
switch(config)# svs connection vcWest
switch(config-svs-conn)# no vmware dvs

        Removing the DVS from the vCenter Server When the VSM Is Not Connected

        Configuring the ability to delete the DVS when the VSM is not connected to the vCenter Server is a two-step process:

        Procedure
          Step 1   Configure the admin user or group. See the Configuring the Admin User or Admin Group section.
          Step 2   Remove the DVS from the vCenter Server. See the Removing the DVS from the vCenter Server section

          Configuring the Admin User or Admin Group

          Before You Begin

          Before beginning this procedure, ensure that the system administrator has created an admin user or admin group on vCenter Server to manage and delete the DVS. This user should not be given any other permissions such as deploying VMs or hosts, and so on. The admin user name configured on the VSM should be the same as the username on vCenter Server.

          Procedure
            Step 1   Determine the name of the DVS.

            Example: 
            switch# show svs connections 

connection VC:
    ipaddress: 10.104.63.16
    remote port: 80
    protocol: VMware-vim https
    certificate: default
    datacenter name: N1K-DC
    admin: 
    DVS uuid: a2 …
    config status: Enabled
    operational status: Connected
    sync status: Complete
    version: VMware vCenter Server 4.1.0 build 258902
            Step 2   Configure the admin user in the vCenter Server.

            Example:
            switch# config t 
switch(config)# svs connection VC 
switch(config-svs-conn) # admin user NAuser 
switch(config-svs-conn) #
            Note   

            You can also configure an admin group by entering the admin group groupname command.

            Step 3   Verify that the admin user has been created.

            Example:
            switch# show svs connections 

connection VC:
    ipaddress: 10.104.63.16
    remote port: 80
    protocol: VMware-vim https
    certificate: default
    datacenter name: N1K-DC
    admin: NAuser(user) 
    DVS uuid: a2 …
    config status: Enabled
    operational status: Connected
    sync status: Complete
    version: VMware vCenter Server 4.1.0 build 258902

            Removing the DVS from the vCenter Server Using the Graphical User Interface

            Procedure
              Step 1   Log in to the vCenter Server through the VMware vSphere Client with the admin user account
              Step 2   In the vSphere Client left pane, choose the data center.
              Step 3   Click Hosts and Clusters > Networking.
              Step 4   Right-click the DVS and choose Remove.

              Configuring Host Mapping

              This section includes the following topics:

              • Information about Host Mapping
              • Removing Host Mapping from a Module
              • Mapping to a New Host
              • Viewing Host Mapping

              Information about Host Mapping

              When a VSM detects a new VEM, it automatically assigns a free module number to the VEM and then maintains the mapping between the module number and the universally unique identifier (UUID) of a host server. This mapping is used to assign the same module number to a given host server.

              Removing Host Mapping from a Module

              Before You Begin

              Before beginning this procedure, be sure you have done the following:

              • Logged in to the Cisco Nexus 1000V in EXEC mode.
              • Removed the host from the Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS on vCenter
              Procedure
                 Command or ActionPurpose
                Step 1switch# configure terminal  

                Places you in global configuration mode.

                 
                Step 2switch(config)# no vem module-number  

                Removes the specified module from software.

                Note   

                If the module is still present in the slot, the command is rejected, as shown in this example.

                 
                Step 3switch(config)# show module vem mapping  (Optional)

                Displays the mapping of modules to host servers.

                 
                Step 4switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config 

                Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

                  
                switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# no vem 4
switch(config)# no vem 3
cannot modify slot 3: host module is inserted
switch(config)# show module vem mapping 
Mod     Status          UUID                                    License Status
---     -----------     ------------------------------------    --------------
  3      powered-up     93312881-309e-11db-afa1-0015170f51a8    licensed
switch(config-vem-slot)# copy running-config startup-config

                Mapping to a New Host

                Before You Begin

                Before beginning this procedure, be sure you have done the following:

                • Logged in to the CLI in EXEC mode
                • Removed the host from the Cisco Nexus 1000V DVS on vCenter

                Note

                If you do not first remove the existing host server mapping, the new host server is assigned a different module number.

                Procedure
                   Command or ActionPurpose
                  Step 1switch# configure terminal  

                  Places you in global configuration mode.

                   
                  Step 2switch(config)# vem module number  

                  Places you in VEM slot configuration mode.

                   
                  Step 3switch(config-vem-slot)# host vmware id server-bios-uuid 

                  Assigns a different host server UUID to the specified module.

                   
                  Step 4switch(config-vem-slot)# show module vem mapping  (Optional)

                  Displays the mapping of modules to host servers.

                   
                  Step 5switch(config-vem-slot)# copy running-config startup-config 

                  Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

                    
                  switch# config t
switch(config)# vem 3
switch(config-vem-slot)# host vmware id 6dd6c3e3-7379-11db-abcd-000bab086eb6
switch(config-vem-slot)# show module vem mapping
Mod     Status          UUID                                    License Status
---     -----------     ------------------------------------    --------------
  3      powered-up     93312881-309e-11db-afa1-0015170f51a8    licensed
  4          absent     6dd6c3e3-7379-11db-abcd-000bab086eb6    licensed

switch(config-vem-slot)# copy running-config startup-config

                  Viewing Host Mapping

                  • Use this procedure in EXEC mode to view the mapping of modules to host servers.
                  Procedure
                  Display the mapping on modules to host servers by entering the following command: show module vem mapping

                  Example: 
                  Mod Status      UUID                                 License Status
--- ----------- ------------------------------------ --------------
3   powered-up  93312881-309e-11db-afa1-0015170f51a8  licensed
n1000v(config)#

                  Verifying Connections

                  Use this procedure to view and verify connections.

                  Before You Begin

                  • You are logged in to the CLI in any command mode.
                  • You have configured the connection using the Connecting to the vCenter Server procedure.
                  • The Cisco Nexus 1000V is connected to vCenter Server/ESX.
                  Procedure
                  show svs connections [name]


                  Example: 
                  n1000v# show svs connections vc
Connection vc:
IP address: 172.28.15.206
Protocol: vmware-vim https
vmware dvs datacenter-name: HamiltonDC
ConfigStatus: Enabled
OperStatus: Connected
n1000v#

                  Displays the current connections to the Cisco Nexus1000V.

                  Note   

                  Network connectivity issues may shut down your connection to the vCenter Server. When network connectivity is restored, the Cisco Nexus 1000V will not automatically restore the connection. In this case, you must restore the connection manually using the following command sequence no connect

                  connect


                  Verifying the Domain

                  Use this procedure to view and verify the configured domain.

                  Before You Begin

                  • You are logged in to the CLI in any command mode.
                  • You have configured a domain using the Creating a Domain procedure.
                  Procedure
                  show svs domain


                  Example: 
                  n1000v# show svs domain
SVS domain config:
Domain id: 98
Control vlan: 70
Packet vlan: 71
Sync state: -
n1000v#

                  Display the domain configured on the Cisco Nexus 1000V.


                  Verifying the Configuration

                  Use one of the following commands to verify the configuration:

                  Command

                  Description

                  show running-config

                  Displays the current configuration.

                  If the Cisco Nexus 1000V is not connected to a vCenter Server or ESX server, the output is limited to connection-related information.

                  show svs connections [name]

                  Displays the current connections to the Cisco Nexus 1000V.

                  Note   

                  Network connectivity issues may shut down your connection to the vCenter Server. When network connectivity is restored, the Cisco Nexus 1000V will not automatically restore the connection. In this case, you must restore the connection manually using the following command sequence:

                  no connect

                  connect

                  show svs domain

                  Displays the domain configured on the Cisco Nexus 1000V.

                  show module

                  Displays module information.

                  show server_info

                  Displays server information.

                  show interface brief

                  Displays interface information, including the uplinks to vCenter Server.

                  show interface virtual

                  Displays virtual interface information.

                  show module vem mapping

                  Displays the mapping of modules to host servers.

                  Verifying Module Information

                  Use this procedure to display and verify module information, including a view of the DVS from Cisco Nexus 1000V.

                  Before You Begin

                  • You are logged in to the CLI in any command mode.
                  • You have configured the Cisco Nexus 1000V connection using the Connecting to the vCenter Server procedure.
                  • The Cisco Nexus 1000V is connected to vCenter Server/ESX.
                  • The Server Administrator has already added the host running Cisco Nexus 1000V to the DVS invCenter Server.
                  Procedure
                    Step 1   show module


                    Example: 
                    n1000v# show module
Mod Ports Module-Type Model Status
--- ----- -------------------------------- ------------------ ------------
1 1 Virtual Supervisor Module Nexus1000V active *
2 48 Virtual Ethernet Module ok
3 48 Virtual Ethernet Module ok
Mod Sw Hw World-Wide-Name(s) (WWN)
--- -------------- ------ --------------------------------------------------
1 4.0(0)S1(0.82) 0.0 --
2 NA 0.0 --
3 NA 0.0 --
Mod MAC-Address(es) Serial-Num
--- -------------------------------------- ----------
1 00-19-07-6c-5a-a8 to 00-19-07-6c-62-a8 NA
2 02-00-0c-00-02-00 to 02-00-0c-00-02-80 NA
3 02-00-0c-00-03-00 to 02-00-0c-00-03-80 NA
Mod Server-IP Server-UUID Server-Name
--- --------------- ------------------------------------ --------------------
1 172.18.217.180 esx-1
2 172.18.117.44 487701ee-6e87-c9e8-fb62-001a64d20a20 esx-2
3 172.18.217.3 4876efdd-b563-9873-8b39-001a64644a24 esx-3
* this terminal session

                    Displays module information.

                    Step 2   show server_info


                    Example:
                    n1000v# show server_info
Mod Status UUID
--- ----------- ----
2 powered-up 34303734-3239-5347-4838-323130344654
3 absent 371e5916-8505-3833-a02b-74a4122fc476
4 powered-up 4880a7a7-7b51-dd96-5561-001e4f3a22f9
5 absent 48840e85-e6f9-e298-85fc-001e4f3a2326
6 powered-up eb084ba6-3b35-3031-a6fe-255506d10cd0
n1000v#

                    Displays server information.

                    Step 3   show interface brief

                    Example:
                    n1000v# show interface brief
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port VRF Status IP Address Speed MTU
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mgmt0 -- up 172.28.15.211 1000 1500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethernet VLAN Type Mode Status Reason Speed Port
Interface Ch #
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth2/2 1 eth trunk up none a-1000(D) --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface VLAN Type Mode Status Reason MTU
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Example
n1000v#

                    Displays interface information, including the uplinks to vCenter Server.

                    Step 4   show interface virtual


                    Example:
                    n1000v# show interface virtual
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port Adapter Owner Mod Host
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veth49 R-VM-1 2 mcs-srvr35

                    Displays virtual interface information.

                    Feature History for Server Connections

                    Feature Name

                    Releases

                    Feature Information

                    DVS Deletion

                    4.2(1)SV1(4a)

                    This feature was added.

                    Server Connections

                    4.0(4)SV1(1)

                    This feature was introduced.