Network Configuration for Cisco UCS Director Express Baremetal Agent

This chapter contains the following sections:

About the Network Configuration Options

You can choose between the following network configuration options for Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data Baremetal Agent:

  • Single network for management and Preboot Execution Environment (PXE)

  • Separate networks for management and PXE

Choose the network configuration option that best meets the requirements of your environment.

Single Network for Management and PXE

We recommend that you choose this network configuration option if your environment permits the following to be hosted on the same network interface and Layer 2 network (see the following figure):

  • Services provided by Baremetal Agent, such as DHCP, TFTP, and HTTP

  • Management traffic between Baremetal Agent and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data or other devices and appliances

Figure 1. Sample Topology for a Single Network



Prerequisites and Assumptions for a Single Network Configuration

If you plan to configure Baremetal Agent with a single network configuration, ensure that your environment meets the following prerequisites:

Separate Networks for Management and PXE

We recommend that you choose this network configuration option if your environment does not permit the following to be hosted on the same network interface and Layer 2 network (see the following figure):

  • On the PXE network, services provided by Baremetal Agent, such as DHCP, TFTP, and HTTP

  • On the Management network, traffic between Baremetal Agent and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data or other devices and appliances

Figure 2. Sample Topology for Separate PXE and Management Networks



Prerequisites and Assumptions for a Separate Network Configuration

If you plan to configure Baremetal Agent with a separate network configuration, make sure that your environment meets the following prerequisites:

  • Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data has been installed and the network interface configured, as described in the appropriate Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data installation guide.

  • Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data Baremetal Agent is reachable through a web browser and you can log in.

  • Baremetal Agent has been installed, as described in the Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data Baremetal Agent Installation and Configuration Guide, and no additional configuration has been performed.

  • The following networks are provisioned and available as a virtual port group or port profile that VMs can be attached to or leverage:

    • Management (MGMT) network—Used for traffic between Baremetal Agent and Cisco UCS Director Express for Big Data

    • PXE network—Used for PXE services traffic, such as DHCP, HTTP, and TFTP