Configuring MAC Pools

This chapter includes the following sections:

MAC Pools

A MAC pool is a collection of network identities, or MAC addresses, that are unique in their layer 2 environment and are available to be assigned to vNICs on a server. If you use MAC pools in service profiles, you do not have to manually configure the MAC addresses to be used by the server associated with the service profile.

In a system that implements multi-tenancy, you can use the organizational hierarchy to ensure that MAC pools can only be used by specific applications or business services. Cisco UCS Manager uses the name resolution policy to assign MAC addresses from the pool.

To assign a MAC address to a server, you must include the MAC pool in a vNIC policy. The vNIC policy is then included in the service profile assigned to that server.

You can specify your own MAC addresses or use a group of MAC addresses provided by Cisco.

Creating a MAC Pool

Procedure
    Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the LAN tab.
    Step 2   In the LAN tab, expand LAN > Pools
    Step 3   Expand the node for the organization where you want to create the pool.

    If the system does not include multitenancy, expand the root node.

    Step 4   Right-click MAC Pools and select Create MAC Pool.
    Step 5   In the first page of the Create MAC Pool wizard:
    1. Enter a unique name and description for the MAC Pool.
    2. Click Next.
    Step 6   In the second page of the Create MAC Pool wizard:
    1. Click Add.
    2. In the Create a Block of MAC Addresses page, enter the first MAC address in the pool and the number of MAC addresses to include in the pool.
    3. Click OK.
    4. Click Finish.
    What to Do Next

    Include the MAC pool in a vNIC template.

    Deleting a MAC Pool

    If you delete a pool, Cisco UCS Manager does not reallocate any addresses from that pool that have been assigned to vNICs or vHBAs. All assigned addresses from a deleted pool remain with the vNIC or vHBA to which they are assigned until one of the following occurs:

    • The associated service profiles are deleted.
    • The vNIC or vHBA to which the address is assigned is deleted.
    • The vNIC or vHBA is assigned to a different pool.
    Procedure
      Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the LAN tab.
      Step 2   In the LAN tab, expand LAN > Pools > Organization_Name .
      Step 3   Expand the MAC Pools node.
      Step 4   Right-click the MAC pool you want to delete and select Delete.
      Step 5   If the Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.