Configuring Networking Objects in Cisco UCS Manager

Understanding the Cisco UCSM and Microsoft SCVMM Workflow

See the following steps for a complete workflow of Cisco UCSM with Microsoft SCVMM:

  1. Configure the service profile network settings for the Hyper-V hosts.
  2. Configure VLANs and IP pools.
  3. Configure the fabric network sets, the fabric network, the network site, and the network segment.
  4. Associate a VM network to the network segment.
  5. Create a Microsoft SCVMM provider.
  6. Create a logical switch.
  7. Configure an uplink port profile (UPP).
  8. Create a virtual port profile (VPP) (for example, port classification for Microsoft).
  9. Create a port profile client for the virtual port profile (VPP) and choose the logical switch that was created under the Microsoft SCVMM provider.
  10. Install the Cisco UCS provider plugin in SCVMM.
  11. Create a Network Service instance on the provider. The provider fetches all the network definitions from Cisco UCSM. The users can schedule the polls for periodic updates.
  12. Create a logical switch in SCVMM by checking the Enable single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) check box and adding Cisco UCSM's logical switch as an extension. Choose an appropriate uplink port profile and virtual port profile.
  13. Create a VM network in SCVMM and choose the network segment from the drop-down list.
  14. Attach the Hyper-V hosts to SCVMM.
  15. Deploy the logical switch to the Hyper-V host.
  16. Create a VM instance in SCVMM. Assign the VM NIC to a VM network and the port classification.
  17. Power on the VM and load the eNIC driver on the VM. The eNIC driver now establishes a network link with the Cisco UCS fabric interconnect (FI). The FI enforces the port classification as per the assigned port profile properties.
  18. Verify the VM vNICs in the Cisco UCSM GUI.

Configuring Service Profile Network Settings for Hyper-V Hosts

As a prerequisite for the Hyper-V host that you plan on using in the Cisco UCS cluster, configure the service profile network settings first. In the Modify vNIC window in the GUI, configure the dynamic vNIC connection policy on the static vNIC.

  • In the Adapter Performance Profile panel, select an SRIOV adapter policy for static vNICs.

  • In the Connection Policies panel, select Dynamic vNIC connection policy on one or more static vNICs that you plan on using.

  • In the Connection Policies panel, click Add to create a dynamic vNIC connection policy. A new window opens.

  • Select windows as the adapter policy for the dynamic vNIC.

  • Specify the number of dynamic vNICs.
  • Click OK.

After completing the steps outlined in this section, SR-IOV is enabled on the vNICs. For more information on configuring policies, see Configuring Policies.


Note

The service profile for VM-FEX configuration must have at least 2 eNICs created on it, one for VM-FEX and another for communication with SCVMM. If there is just one eNIC on the service profile to implement SRIOV and talk to SCVMM, the configuration will not work when a logical switch is deployed on the eNIC.

Configuring a VLAN

For more information on creating VLANs, see the GUI configuration guide for the Cisco UCSM version that you are using.

Configuring an IP Pool

You can configure an IP pool by using the VM tab.

Note
IP pools are used by Microsoft SCVMM; they are not used by Cisco UCSM.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand All > Fabric Network Sets.

Step 3

Right-click IP Pools and choose the Create IP Pool option.

The Create IP Pool window appears.
Step 4

In the Define Name and Description panel, enter the name of the IP pool.

Step 5

(Optional) Enter a description of the IP pool.

Step 6

In the NetBios Mode field, choose Active if you want to enable the NetBios mode for the IP pool or choose Not-Active if you do not want to enable the NetBios mode.

Step 7

In the Supports DHCP field, choose Supported if you want to get the DHCP IP address from the DHCP server or choose Not-Supported to get a static IP pool.

Step 8

Click Next.

Step 9

In the Create IP Pool window, choose Add to add a valid DNS suffix for the IP pool.

Step 10

Click OK.

Step 11

Click Next.

The IPV4 WINS Servers window appears.
Step 12

In the IPV4 WINS Servers field, add a valid IP address for the WINS server.

Step 13

Click Next.

The Add IPV4 Blocks window appears.
Step 14

Click Add.

The Create Block of IPV4 Addresses window appears.

Note 

Both IPv4 and IPv6 pools are supported but they cannot coexist at the same time. Multiple blocks of IP addresses are not supported.

Step 15

In the From field, enter a valid IP address.

Step 16

In the Size field, enter the size of the block.

Step 17

In the Subnet Mask field, enter a valid IP address.

Step 18

in the Default Gateway field, enter a valid IP address.

Step 19

Enter a valid IP address in the Subnet Mask field.

Step 20

(Optional) In the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS fields, enter valid IP addresses.

Step 21

In the Add IPV4 Blocks window, click OK.

Step 22

In the Create a Block of IPV4 Addresses window, click Next.

Step 23

Click Finish.

A Create IP Pool message window indicates that the IP pool has been successfully created.
Step 24

In the message window, click OK.

The configured IP pool is displayed in the Cisco UCSM GUI.

Configuring a Fabric Network

Configure a Fabric Network using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand All > Fabric Network Sets.

Step 3

In the left panel, right-click Fabric Networks then select Create Fabric Network.

The Create Fabric Network window appears.
Step 4

Enter the name of the fabric network.

Step 5

(Optional) Enter the description of the fabric network.

Step 6

Click Next.

Step 7

Click Finish.

Configuring a Network Site

You can configure a network site by using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand All > Fabric Network Sets.

Step 3

Right click Fabric Networks. In the Network Sites panel click Add. The Add a Network Site window appears.

Step 4

Enter the name of the network site in the Name field.

Step 5

(Optional) Enter the description of the network site in the Description field.

Step 6

In the Network Segment pane, click Add to associate network segments to the network sites.

You can configure many network segments under a network site. A network site can contain network segments with both regular and isolated VLANs. A network segment cannot have an isolated VLAN when another segment that belongs to the same network site contains an isolated VLAN.
Step 7

Click OK.

The network site is displayed in the Cisco UCSM GUI.

Configuring a Network Segment

You can configure a network segment in the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Create Fabric Network window, click Add then select the Network Segment menu option.

The Add a Network Segment window displays.
Step 2

Enter the name of the network segment.

Step 3

(Optional) Enter the description of the network segment.

Step 4

Enter the number of maximum ports for the network segment.

Step 5

Add VLANs from the drop-down window to the network segment.

Only one VLAN and one IP pool can be selected for each network segment due to a constraint with Microsoft SCVMM.
Step 6

Select an IP Pool from the drop-down window for the network Segment.

Note 
Modifying the IP Pool attribute on the network segment can have undesirable effects in SCVMM if the network segment is assigned to a Virtual Machine. Please ensure that this object is not used by the Virtual Machines, including the powered-off Virtual Machines, before modifying this object.
Step 7

Click OK.

Associating a VM Network to a Network Segment

You can associate a VM Network to a network segment by using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Right-click VM Networks and select the Create Virtual Network option.

The Create Virtual Network window appears.
Step 4

In the Name field, enter the name of the virtual network.

Step 5

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the VM network.

Step 6

Select the fabric network that contains the network segment that you wish to associate the VM network to.

Step 7

Select the network segment. As per SCVMM restrictions, you can associate only one network segment with a VM network.

Note 
Modifying the network segment and the logical network attributes on the VM network can have undesirable effects in SCVMM if they have already been assigned to a VM. You must ensure that the network segment and the logical network attributes are not used by the VMs, including powered-off VMs before modifying these objects.
Step 8

Click OK.

The VM network is displayed in the Cisco UCS Manager GUI window.

Creating SCVMM Provider

You can create a SCVMM provider by using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Right click Microsoft.

Step 4

Select Add SCVMM Connection.

Step 5

In the Name field, enter the name of the SCVMM provider.

Step 6

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the SCVMM provider.

Step 7

In the IP Address field, enter the IP address of the server. You cannot enter the DNS hostname in the field.

Step 8

Click OK.

Configuring a Logical Switch

You can configure a logical switch by using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Right-click the SCVMM provider instance under Microsoft and choose the Create Logical Switch option.

The Create Logical Switch window appears.
Step 4

In the Name field, enter the name of the logical switch.

Step 5

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the logical switch .

Step 6

In the Create Logical Switch window, click OK.

A message window indicates that the logical switch is successfully created. The newly created logical switch is displayed in the Cisco UCSM GUI.

Configuring an Uplink Port Profile

You can configure an uplink port profile using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Right-click an existing logical switch instance under Microsoft > SCVMM and click Create an Uplink Port Profile.

Step 4

In the Create Uplink Port Profiles window, enter the name of the uplink port profile.

Step 5

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the uplink port profile.

Step 6

Add a network site to the uplink port.

Note 
Adding or removing a network site on the uplink port can have undesirable effects in SCVMM if the network site is assigned to a VM. You must ensure that this object is not used by the VMs, including the powered-off VMs, before modifying this object.
Step 7

Click OK.

You can now view the SCVMM provider and the logical switch configuration in the Cisco UCSM GUI.

Creating a Virtual Port Profile

You can create a virtual port profile using the VM tab.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Click Port Profiles.

Step 4

Click Add.

Step 5

In the Name field, enter the name of the port profile.

Step 6

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the port profile.

Step 7

(Optional) From the drop-down list, choose the QoS policy.

Step 8

(Optional) From the drop-down list, choose the Network Control policy.

Step 9

Enter the number of maximum ports for the port profile.

Step 10

In the Host Network IO performance field, clickNone. The Host Network IO performance mode is not supported on SR-IOV.

Step 11

(Optional) From the drop-down list, choose the Pin Group.

Step 12

Set the Type as SLA Only for Microsoft Hyper-V.

Note 
While creating a port profile, set the type as SLA Only to make it a virtual port profile. The VLANs cannot be selected for the SLA Only port profile.
Step 13

Click OK.

Creating a Profile Client

You can create a port profile client using the Create Profile Client window.

Procedure

Step 1

In the Navigation pane, click VM.

Step 2

Expand the All node.

Step 3

Click Port Profiles.

Step 4

Choose a port profile.

Step 5

Right-click the port profile then select the Create Port Profile Client option.

The Create Profile Client window appears.
Step 6

In the Name field, enter the name of the port profile client.

Step 7

(Optional) In the Description field, enter the description of the port profile client.

Step 8

Select the logical switch in the Distributed Virtual Switch field. You can select a particular logical switch or all logical switches in this field. The configuration for the selected logical switch is done from Microsoft -> SCVMM provider -> Logical switch.

Step 9

Click OK.

A message window displays indicating that the profile client is successfully created. The profile client is attached to the logical switch.