Configuring Distributed Virtual Switches in Cisco UCS

This chapter includes the following sections:

Distributed Virtual Switches

The Cisco UCS distributed virtual switch (DVS) is a software-based virtual switch that runs along side the vSwitch in the ESX hypervisor and can be distributed across multiple ESX hosts. Unlike the vSwitch, which uses its own local port configuration, a DVS that is associated with multiple ESX hosts uses the same port configuration across all ESX hosts.

After associating an ESX host to a DVS, you can migrate existing VMs from the vSwitch to the DVS, and you can create VMs to use the DVS instead of the vSwitch. With the VM-FEX for VMware implementation, when a VM uses the DVS, all VM traffic passes through the DVS and ASIC-based switching is performed by the fabric interconnect.

Overview of Creating a DVS in Cisco UCS Manager

To create a distributed virtual switch (DVS) in Cisco UCS Manager, you must first create a vCenter, a datacenter under the vCenter, and a datacenter folder under the datacenter. You can then create a DVS in the datacenter folder. The vCenter name you specify in Cisco UCS Manager does not need to match the vCenter name specified in VMware vCenter; however, the datacenter name you specify in Cisco UCS Manager must match the datacenter name specified in VMware vCenter. The datacenter folder and DVS you create in Cisco UCS Manager are pushed to VMware vCenter.

Configuring a Distributed Virtual Switch

Before You Begin

You must first create a datacenter in VMware vCenter. Do not create the folder inside the datacenter or the DVS in VMware vCenter.

Procedure
    Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
    Step 2   On the VM tab, expand the All node.
    Step 3   Right-click the VMWare node and choose Configure vCenter.
    Step 4   On the Configure vCenter page, do the following:
    1. Complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Name field

      The name of the vCenter folder.

      This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      Description field

      A user-defined description of the folder.

      Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

    2. Click Next.
    Step 5   On the Create Folder page, click one of the following:
    Option Description

    Next

    Moves to the next page. Choose this option if the vCenter structure does not require you to include the datacenter in a high-level folder.

    If you choose this option, continue with Step 7.

    Add

    Opens the Create Folder dialog box, where you can add a high-level folder above the datacenter.

    If you choose this option, continue with Step 6.
    Step 6   (Optional)In the Create Folder dialog box, do the following:
    1. Complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Name field

      The name of the vCenter folder.

      This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      Description field

      A user-defined description of the folder.

      Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

    2. Click Next.
    Step 7   On the Create Datacenter page, do the following:
    1. Click Add.
    2. In the Create Datacenter dialog box, complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Name field

      The name of the datacenter.

      This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      The datacenter name that you specify in Cisco UCS Manager must match the name of the datacenter previously created in VMware vCenter.

      Description field

      The user-defined description of the datacenter.

      Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

    3. Click Next.
    Step 8   In the Create Folder page, do the following to create a folder in the datacenter:
    1. Click Add.
    2. In the Create Folder dialog box, complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Name field

      The name of the vCenter folder.

      This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      Description field

      A user-defined description of the folder.

      Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

    3. Click Next.
    Step 9   On the Create Distributed Virtual Switches page, do the following to create a distributed virtual switch in the folder:
    1. Click Add to add a distributed virtual switch to the folder.
    2. In the Create Distributed Virtual Switches dialog box, complete the following fields:
      Name Description

      Name field

      The name of the distributed virtual switch.

      This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      Description field

      The user-defined description of the distributed virtual switch.

      Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      Admin State field

      This can be one of the following:

      • Enabled
      • Disabled

      If you disable the DVS, Cisco UCS Manager does not push any configuration changes related to the DVS to VMware vCenter.
    3. Click OK.
    Step 10   Click Finish if you have finished adding all datacenters, folders, and DVSes to the vCenter.

    You may need to click Finish more than once to exit the wizard. You can stop at any page to add another datacenter, folder, or DVS.

    Managing Distributed Virtual Switches

    Adding a Folder to an Existing vCenter

    You can add a folder inside an existing vCenter and place your datacenters inside the folder. However, this folder is optional.

    Procedure
      Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
      Step 2   On the VM tab, expand the VMWare node.
      Step 3   Right-click the vCenter to which you want to add a datacenter and choose Create Folder.
      Step 4   (Optional)In the Create Folder dialog box, do the following:
      1. Complete the following fields:
        Name Description

        Name field

        The name of the vCenter folder.

        This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        Description field

        A user-defined description of the folder.

        Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      2. Click Next.
      Step 5   On the Create Datacenter page, do the following:
      1. Click Add.
      2. In the Create Datacenter dialog box, complete the following fields:
        Name Description

        Name field

        The name of the datacenter.

        This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        The datacenter name that you specify in Cisco UCS Manager must match the name of the datacenter previously created in VMware vCenter.

        Description field

        The user-defined description of the datacenter.

        Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      3. Click Next.
      Step 6   In the Create Folder page, do the following to create a folder in the datacenter:
      1. Click Add.
      2. In the Create Folder dialog box, complete the following fields:
        Name Description

        Name field

        The name of the vCenter folder.

        This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        Description field

        A user-defined description of the folder.

        Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

      3. Click Next.
      Step 7   On the Create Distributed Virtual Switches page, do the following to create a distributed virtual switch in the folder:
      1. Click Add to add a distributed virtual switch to the folder.
      2. In the Create Distributed Virtual Switches dialog box, complete the following fields:
        Name Description

        Name field

        The name of the distributed virtual switch.

        This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        Description field

        The user-defined description of the distributed virtual switch.

        Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        Admin State field

        This can be one of the following:

        • Enabled
        • Disabled

        If you disable the DVS, Cisco UCS Manager does not push any configuration changes related to the DVS to VMware vCenter.
      3. Click OK.
      Step 8   Click Finish if you have finished adding all datacenters, folders, and DVSes to the folder.

      You may need to click Finish more than once to exit the wizard. You can stop at any page to add another datacenter, folder, or DVS.

      Adding a Datacenter to an Existing vCenter

      Before You Begin

      You must first create a datacenter in VMware vCenter. Do not create the folder inside the datacenter or the DVS in VMware vCenter.

      Procedure
        Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
        Step 2   On the VM tab, expand the VMWare node.
        Step 3   Right-click the vCenter to which you want to add a datacenter and choose Create Datacenter.
        Step 4   On the Create Datacenter page, do the following:
        1. Click Add.
        2. In the Create Datacenter dialog box, complete the following fields:
          Name Description

          Name field

          The name of the datacenter.

          This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

          The datacenter name that you specify in Cisco UCS Manager must match the name of the datacenter previously created in VMware vCenter.

          Description field

          The user-defined description of the datacenter.

          Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        3. Click Next.
        Step 5   In the Create Folder page, do the following to create a folder in the datacenter:
        1. Click Add.
        2. In the Create Folder dialog box, complete the following fields:
          Name Description

          Name field

          The name of the vCenter folder.

          This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

          Description field

          A user-defined description of the folder.

          Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

        3. Click Next.
        Step 6   On the Create Distributed Virtual Switches page, do the following to create a distributed virtual switch in the folder:
        1. Click Add to add a distributed virtual switch to the folder.
        2. In the Create Distributed Virtual Switches dialog box, complete the following fields:
          Name Description

          Name field

          The name of the distributed virtual switch.

          This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

          Description field

          The user-defined description of the distributed virtual switch.

          Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

          Admin State field

          This can be one of the following:

          • Enabled
          • Disabled

          If you disable the DVS, Cisco UCS Manager does not push any configuration changes related to the DVS to VMware vCenter.
        3. Click OK.
        Step 7   Click Finish if you have finished adding all folders and distributed virtual switches to the datacenter.

        You may need to click Finish more than once to exit the wizard. You can stop at any page to add another folder or DVS to the datacenter.

        Adding a Folder to a Datacenter

        Procedure
          Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
          Step 2   On the VM tab, expand the VMWare node.
          Step 3   Expand the vCenter that includes the datacenter to which you want to add a folder.
          Step 4   Right-click the datacenter to which you want to add a folder and choose Create Folder.
          Step 5   On the Create Folder page, do the following to add a folder to the datacenter:
          1. Complete the following fields:
            Name Description

            Name field

            The name of the vCenter folder.

            This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

            Description field

            A user-defined description of the folder.

            Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).


            • Click Next and continue with Step 6 to create a DVS in the folder.
            • Continue with Step 7 if you do not want to create a DVS in the folder.
          Step 6   On the Create Distributed Virtual Switches page, do the following to create a distributed virtual switch in the folder:
          1. Click Add to add a distributed virtual switch to the folder.
          2. In the Create Distributed Virtual Switches dialog box, complete the following fields:
            Name Description

            Name field

            The name of the distributed virtual switch.

            This name can be between 1 and 16 characters. You can use spaces and any other ASCII characters except for ` (accent), \ (back slash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), / (forward slash), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

            Description field

            The user-defined description of the distributed virtual switch.

            Enter up to 256 characters. You can use any characters or spaces except ` (accent mark), \ (backslash), ^ (carat), " (double quote), = (equal sign), > (greater than), < (less than), or ' (single quote).

            Admin State field

            This can be one of the following:

            • Enabled
            • Disabled

            If you disable the DVS, Cisco UCS Manager does not push any configuration changes related to the DVS to VMware vCenter.
          3. Click OK.
          Step 7   Click Finish if you have finished adding all folders and DVSes to the datacenter.

          You may need to click Finish more than once to exit the wizard. You can stop at any page to add another folder or DVS.

          Deleting a Folder from a vCenter

          If the folder contains a datacenter, Cisco UCS Manager also deletes that datacenter and any folders and DVSes it contains.

          Procedure
            Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
            Step 2   On the VM tab, expand All > VMWare.
            Step 3   Expand the node for the vCenter that contains the folder you want to delete.
            Step 4   Right-click the folder and choose Delete.
            Step 5   If the Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.

            Deleting a Datacenter

            If the datacenter contains a folder, Cisco UCS Manager also deletes that folder and any DVS it contains.

            Procedure
              Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
              Step 2   On the VM tab, expand All > VMWare.
              Step 3   If the datacenter that you want to delete is contained in a higher level folder, expand the node for that folder.
              Step 4   Right-click the datacenter and choose Delete.
              Step 5   If the Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.

              Deleting a Folder from a Datacenter

              If the folder contains a DVS, Cisco UCS Manager also deletes that DVS.

              Procedure
                Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the VM tab.
                Step 2   On the VM tab, expand All > VMWare.
                Step 3   If the datacenter that you want to modify is contained in a higher level folder, expand the node for that folder.
                Step 4   Expand the node for the datacenter that contains the folder you want to delete.
                Step 5   Right-click the folder and choose Delete.
                Step 6   If the Cisco UCS Manager GUI displays a confirmation dialog box, click Yes.