Preface


This Getting Started Guide shows you how to create a configuration file for your Cisco Nexus 1000V, and provides enough information about the system to get you started configuring and using it in your datacenter.

This preface describes the following aspects of this document:

Audience

Recommended Reading

Document Organization

Document Conventions

Available Documents

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

Audience

This guide is for network administrators and server administrators with the following experience and knowledge:

An understanding of virtualization

Using VMware tools to create a virtual machine and configure a vSwitch


Note Knowledge of VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch is not required.


Recommended Reading

Before configuring the Cisco Nexus 1000V, Cisco recommends that you read and become familiar with the following documentation:

Cisco Nexus 1000V Getting Started Guide, Release 4.2(1) SV1(4) (this document)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Port Profile Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Software Installation Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Ethernet Module Software Installation Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4) (server administrators)

Cisco VN-Link: Virtualization-Aware Networking white paper

Document Organization

This document is organized into the following chapters:

Chapter and Title
Description

Chapter 1, "Overview"

Provides an overview of the Cisco Nexus 1000V product and features.

Chapter 2, "Setting Up the Software"

Describes how, after installing the Cisco Nexus 1000V software, to setup a configuration.

Chapter 3, "Configuring the Software Using the GUI"

Describes how to use the GUI Application to setup a configuration file.

Chapter 4, "Configuring the Software Using the CLI"

Describes howto use the CLI to setup a configuration file.

Chapter 5, "Running a VSM and VEM on the Same Host"

Describes how, after installing the Cisco Nexus 1000V software, to configure a VEM on the same host.

Chapter 6, "Understanding the CLI"

Describes how to use the CLI, including command modes, prompts, keystroke shortcuts, variables, scripts, and so forth.

Chapter 7, "Configuring the Terminal"

Describes how to configure the terminal that is used to communicate with the Cisco Nexus 1000V.

Chapter 9, "List of Terms"

Lists and defines terminology used in the Cisco Nexus 1000V implementation.

Chapter 8, "Configuration Limits"

Lists the Cisco Nexus 1000V configuration limits.


Document Conventions

Command descriptions use these conventions:

boldface font

Commands and keywords are in boldface.

italic font

Arguments for which you supply values are in italics.

{ }

Elements in braces are required choices.

[ ]

Elements in square brackets are optional.

x | y | z

Alternative, mutually exclusive elements are separated by vertical bars.

string

A nonquoted set of characters. Do not use quotation marks around the string or the string will include the quotation marks.


Screen examples use these conventions:

screen font

Terminal sessions and information the device displays are in screen font.

boldface screen font

Information you must enter is in boldface screen font.

italic screen font

Arguments for which you supply values are in italic screen font.

< >

Nonprinting characters, such as passwords, are in angle brackets.

[ ]

Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.

!, #

An exclamation point (!) or a pound sign (#) at the beginning of a line of code indicates a comment line.


This document uses the following conventions for notes and cautions:


Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to material not covered in the manual.



Caution Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment damage or loss of data.

Available Documents

This section lists the documents used with the Cisco Nexus 1000 and available on Cisco.com at the following url:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9902/tsd_products_support_series_home.html

General Information

Cisco Nexus 1000V Documentation Roadmap, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Release Notes, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Compatibility Information, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1010 Management Software Release Notes, Release 4.2(1)SP1(2)

Install and Upgrade

Cisco Nexus 1000V Virtual Supervisor Module Software Installation Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Software Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V VEM Software Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1010 Virtual Services Appliance Hardware Installation Guide

Cisco Nexus 1010 Software Installation and Upgrade Guide, Release 4.2(1)SP1(2)

Configuration Guides

Cisco Nexus 1000V License Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Getting Started Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V High Availability and Redundancy Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Interface Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Layer 2 Switching Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Port Profile Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Quality of Service Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Security Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V System Management Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1010 Software Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)SP1(2)

Programming Guide

Cisco Nexus 1000V XML API User Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Reference Guides

Cisco Nexus 1000V Command Reference, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V MIB Quick Reference

Cisco Nexus 1010 Command Reference, Release 4.2(1)SP1(2)

Troubleshooting and Alerts

Cisco Nexus 1000V Troubleshooting Guide, Release 4.2(1)SV1(4)

Cisco Nexus 1000V Password Recovery Guide

Cisco NX-OS System Messages Reference

Virtual Security Gateway Documentation

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Series Switch Release Notes, Release 4.2(1)VSG(1)

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway, Release 4.2(1)VSG1(1) and Cisco Virtual Network Management Center, Release 1.0.1 Installation Guide

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Series Switch License Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)VSG1(1)

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Series Switch Configuration Guide, Release 4.2(1)VSG1(1)

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Series Switch Command Reference, Release 4.2(1)VSG1(1)

Virtual Network Management Center

Release Notes for Cisco Virtual Network Management Center, Release 1.0.1

Cisco Virtual Security Gateway, Release 4.2(1)VSG1(1) and Cisco Virtual Network Management Center, Release 1.0.1 Installation Guide

Cisco Virtual Network Management Center CLI Configuration Guide, Release 1.0.1

Cisco Virtual Network Management Center GUI Configuration Guide, Release 1.0.1

Cisco Virtual Network Management Center XML API Reference Guide, Release 1.0.1

Network Analysis Module Documentation

Cisco Network Analysis Module Software Documentation Guide, 4.2

Cisco Nexus 1000V NAM Virtual Service Blade Installation and Configuration Guide

Network Analysis Module Command Reference Guide, 4.2

User Guide for the Cisco Network Analysis Module Virtual Service Blades, 4.2

Cisco Network Analysis Module Software Release Notes, 4.2

Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request

For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service and Cisco currently supports RSS Version 2.0.