Contents
- Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Quick Start Guide
- New and Changed Information
- Overview
- Prerequisites
- Cable Connection
- Configuring Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager
- Configuring Network Information for ESXi
- Configuring the IP Address of the VMware ESXi
- Configuring DNS Servers for the VMware ESXi
- Configuring the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance
- Logging into the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager
- Modifying Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Management and Auto Fabric Provisioning IP Address Configuration
- Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Related Documentation
First Published: April 20, 2016
Last Updated: June 19, 2017
Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Quick Start Guide
This chapter contains the following sections:
New and Changed Information
The following table summarizes the new and changed features for the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Quick Start Guide, Release 1.x. and tells you where they are documented.
Feature
Description
Changed in Release
Where Documented
—
AFP functionality of interface if0 has been consolidated into mgmt0
1.3(1)
Configuring the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance
-- Reversed correction of default password 1.1(2a), 1.1(2), 1.1(1)
--
Corrected default password.
1.1(2a), 1.1(2), 1.1(1)
--
Modified if0 note.
1.1(1)
Configuring the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance
No New Features
Initial release
1.1(1)
--
Overview
The Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager is a system designed to highly simplify and optimize the full lifecycle management of a switch fabric based on the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches. The Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager provides point-and-click methods for performing fabric management tasks such as adding, removing, and configuring network components. The configurable network components include switchpools, switches, switch interfaces, foreign devices (such as hosts), virtual routing and forwarding topologies (VRFs), port channels and broadcast domains.
The Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager user interface leverages an intuitive Navigation menu to easily move between the main functions of the system. The main system functions include switchpools, profiles, faults, racks, VRFs, images, upgrades, and authentication.
The Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager also introduces Auto Fabric Provisioning (AFP), which enables the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager to manage switches that have not yet received any configuration. Through AFP, you can specify the initial switch configuration using the desired management IP address, username, password, and Cisco NX-OS software release. Your initial configuration is automatically applied to the device before being imported into the switchpool.
For configuration information, see the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Configuration Guide, Release 1.1(1) .
Prerequisites
The items concerning the networking environment are as follows. You will need to provide a minimum of three IP addresses (four with Auto Fabric Provisioning):
IP address or DNS name, netmask, gateway for the ESXi management interface.
IP address, netmask, and gateway for the CIMC.
IP address, netmask, and gateway for the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager management interface.
Gateway address appropriate to the IP address and netmask.
(Optional) IP address, netmask, and gateway for Auto Fabric Provisioning interface.
(Optional) IP addresses of up to two DNS servers for the virtual appliance to use.
Any proxy values necessary for the virtual appliance to access the Internet.
Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC)
Be ready with the following information when configuring the Cisco Integrated Management Controller:
IP address for the CIMC port on the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager.
Note
This IP address must be unique for this appliance.
Netmask (subnetmask) for the CIMC port address.
Gateway for the CIMC port address.
Network information for ESXi
Be ready with the following information when configuring network information for ESXi:
IP address for the ESXi management interface on the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager.
Note
This IP address must be unique for this appliance.
Netmask for the IP address of the ESXi management interface.
Gateway address for the ESXi management interface on the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager.
VLAN (if any) for the ESXi management interface on the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager.
Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance
Be ready with the following information before you configure the initial setup of the virtual appliance. These items are unique to the installation of this particular virtual appliance.
A root password for the operating system on the virtual appliance. You will be prompted to enter and configure the root password during your first boot.
A REST API password for Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager and UI access.
IP address for the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager virtual appliance.
DNS name (hostname) for the virtual appliance. It should be placed into DNS using the IP address you selected for the virtual appliance.
Cable Connection
Network Cable Connections for Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager
1
Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager & VMware ESXi management port connection.
2
Cisco Auto Fabric Provisioning port connection. See the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Configuration Guide for how to configure Auto Fabric Provisioning.
3
Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) port connection.
Configuring Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager
Procedure
Configure the UCS CIMC Network Connection. To configure this you can see the document available online at C220 Installation Guide.You have to select Dedicated and configure NIC Redundancy as None in the Connecting and Powering On (Standalone Mode) procedure.
The CIMC gives you insight into the hardware as well as support for a virtual KVM console allowing remote management of the ESXi layer. For details on CIMC, see the Cisco UCS C-Series Servers Integrated Management Controller GUI Configuration Guide.
Configuring Network Information for ESXi
ProcedureAfter configuring the network information for the UCS CIMC console, use the virtual KVM console that the CIMC console provides to configure the network information for the ESXi hypervisor.
Configuring the IP Address of the VMware ESXi
Procedure
Step 1 Use the arrow keys to select IP Configuration and press Enter. Step 2 Use the arrow keys to select Set Static IP address and Network Configuration. Step 3 Use the space bar to enable this selection. Step 4 Use the arrow keys to select IP Address and enter the IP address. Step 5 Use the arrow keys to select Subnet Mask and enter the subnet mask. Step 6 Use the arrow keys to select Default Gateway and enter the gateway address. Step 7 Press Enter to accept the IP Configuration updates.
Configuring DNS Servers for the VMware ESXi
Procedure
Step 1 Use the Arrow keys to select DNS Configuration and press Enter. Step 2 Use the Arrow keys to select Primary DNS Server and enter the IP address of the primary DNS server. Step 3 Use the Arrow keys to select Alternate DNS Server and enter the IP address of the alternate DNS server. Step 4 Use the Arrow keys to select Hostname and enter the hostname.
Note Ensure that you enter the entire hostname, including the domain name.
Step 5 Press Enter to accept the DNS Configuration updates. Step 6 (Optional)If you have a VLAN configured on the switch to which the ESXi is connected, use the arrow keys to select VLAN and press Enter. Step 7 (Optional)Enter the VLAN for this network connection and press Enter to accept the change. Step 8 Press Esc to exit the Configure Management Network window which you are in now. Step 9 Use the Arrow keys to select Test Management Network and press Enter. You can see the addresses to be pinged and the hostname to be resolved. Use the arrow keys and select the address to be pinged and press Enter. The test pings your default gateway and DNS servers and tests the connectivity. Press Enter when the test is complete.
At this point, ESXi listens on the IP address that you configured.
Step 10 Use a browser to connect to the IP address configured for ESXi. A window displaying VMware ESXi 6.0 Welcome appears. Step 11 If you already have downloaded VMware vSphere and have it available, go to Configuring the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance. Step 12 Download the VMware vSphere client for Windows onto your system.
Configuring the Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance
ProcedureThe Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Virtual Appliance is delivered as a virtual machine installed on the ESXi hypervisor. The virtual machine name as shipped from Cisco is “Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager”.
To manage the virtual machine containing Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager, use the VMware vSphere Client.
Step 1 Log in to VMware ESXi 6.0 by using the VMware vSphere Client. Step 2 Right-click Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager in the left pane. Step 3 From the menu, choose Open Console. Step 4 Click in the Console window, enter a new root password and enter it a second time to confirm. Step 5 Enter the REST API password and enter it a second time to confirm. The Network Manager TUI window opens.
Note The previous two steps only occur the first time Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager powers up.
Step 6 To configure the management IP address, choose the Edit a connection option and press Enter. The Ethernet window opens. Step 7 Select MGMT0. Step 8 Tab over to the Edit field and press Enter. The Edit Connection window opens. Step 9 Tab over to the IPv4 CONFIGURATION Disabled field and press Enter. The menu expands. Step 10 Use the Arrow keys to move to Manual and press Enter. Step 11 Tab over to the Show field and press Enter. The IPv4 CONFIGURATION section expands. Step 12 Tab over to the Addresses Add field and press Enter. Step 13 In the Addresses field, enter the IP address. The IP address must be in the format IP address/netmask. For example,192.168.x.x/25.
Step 14 Tab over to the Gateway and enter the IP address.
For example, 192.168.x.x.
Step 15 (Optional)Tab over to either the DNS servers field or the Search domains field and enter the IP address for the DNS server or search domain configurations. Step 16 Tab over to OK field and press Enter. Step 17 (Optional)Configure if0 for Auto Fabric Provisioning.
Note Configuration of if0 is necessary only if you are using Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Release 1.2(3) or earlier and you are using Auto Fabric Provisioning (AFP). In which case, if0 must be in the same subnet as the mgmt0 interface.
Beginning with Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Release 1.3(1), the AFP functionality is executed via mgmt0.
Step 18 (Optional)Select if0. Step 19 (Optional)Repeat Steps 8 to 15 for if0 IP address configurations. Step 20 Tab over to the Quit field and press Enter. The services restart after the network configuration change. Step 21 Once you see the login prompt, close the console and vSphere client. You are done with the initial network setup.
Modifying Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Management and Auto Fabric Provisioning IP Address Configuration
Procedure
Note
Beginning with Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Release 1.3(1), the Auto Fabric Provisioning (AFP) functionality of interface if0 has been consolidated into mgmt0. Configuration of if0 is necessary only if you are using Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Release 1.2(3) or earlier and are using AFP.
Step 1 Log in to VMware ESXi 6.0 by using the VMware vSphere Client. Step 2 Right-click Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager in the left pane. Step 3 From the menu, choose Open Console. Step 4 Click in the Console window and log in as root. Step 5 Enter the root password. Step 6 Enter the following commands: # service esm stop # nmtuiStep 7 Select the Edit a connection option. Step 8 Select the interface (Mgmt0 for management IP address, if0 for the Auto Fabric Provisioning IP address.) Step 9 Tab over to the Edit field and press Enter. The Edit Connection window opens. Step 10 Tab over to the Addresses field and modify the IP address. The IP address must be in the format IP address/netmask. For example. 192.168.x.x/25.
Step 11 Tab over to OK field and press Enter. Step 12 Tab over to the Quit field and press Enter. Step 13 Enter the following command to update the management IP address change: # nmcli con down mgmt0 ; nmcli con up mgmt0 Step 14 Enter the following command to update the Auto Fabric Provisioning IP address change: # nmcli con down if0 ; nmcli con up if0Step 15 To restart the service, enter the following command: # service esm startStep 16 After the service starts, enter the following command: # exitStep 17 Close the console and VMware vSphere client.
Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager Related Documentation
Note
We sometimes update the documentation after original publication. Therefore, you should also review the documentation on Cisco.com for any updates.
The following is a list of documentation that you can refer to:
Hardware Documents
Go to the following page to see the documentation for UCS server hardware: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/servers-unified-computing/ucs-c-series-rack-servers/index.html
.Software Documents
The following document gives the list of documents available for Cisco Nexus Fabric Manager: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/cloud-systems-management/nexus-fabric-manager/tsd-products-support-series-home.html
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