Description

:
How to Setup the Cisco UCS environment and
configure the UCS
Platform
:
Cisco UCS
Model
:
Cisco UCS
Prepared By
:
F. Mohaideen Abdul Kader
Category :
How To

HOW TO SETUP THE CISCO UCS

ENVIRONMENT AND CONFIGURE THE
UCS ?
This document will provide the step by step instructions to setup the Cisco UCS
environment for first time. Cisco UCS is highly customizable and the configuration
will be differ for each environment. The core part of Cisco UCS deployment is
cabling. Unlike the traditional chassis , Cisco UCS have additional components like
I/O modules (FEX) and Fabric interconnects (FI / UCS Manager). Fabric interconnect
has its own management ports to manage it. There will be a dedicated ports to
provide the connectivity between FIs. So that both the FIs configuration will be
sync with each other.
1. Setup the Fabric Interconnect (UCS Manager) . You need to interconnect the FIs
to make the FI cluster.

The Fabric interconnects MGMT port needs to be connected to the management

network.

Connect the L1 port of Fabric Interconnect A to the L1 port of fabric

interconnect B.
Do likewise for the L2 ports. L1 & L2 ports are used for Fabric interconnect
heart-beating and this connectivity ensures that both the FIs maintaining the
identical data.

2. Laid the cabling between the chassis and Fabric interconnect. So that chassis can
be discovered in the UCS manager. L1 & L2 ports provides the connectivity between
two FIs.

3. Connect the FIs to the Nexus switch. This Nexus switch has capability to
diverging the LAN & SAN traffic to the peer devices.

At this point , you have physically setup the UCS environment.

4. Configuring the Fabric Interconnects.

Connect to the console port of Fabric Interconnect (FI) A, which will be the primary
member of the cluster. Power on FI-A and leave the secondary FI off for now. Verify
that the console port parameters on the attached computer are as follows 9600
baud, 8 data bits, No parity, 1 stop bit. Once you have connected to the FI
A management console, you will get the interactive session like below.
Enter the configuration method. (console/gui) ? console
Enter the setup mode; setup newly or restore from backup.
(setup/restore) ?
setup You have chosen to setup a new Fabric interconnect.
Continue? (y/n): y
Enter the password for admin: password
Confirm the password for admin: password
Is this Fabric interconnect part of a cluster(select no for
standalone)? (yes/no) [n]: yes
Enter the switch fabric (A/B) []: A
Enter the system name: Fabric-DC1-A
Physical Switch Mgmt0 IPv4 address : X.X.X.X

Physical Switch Mgmt0 IPv4 netmask : X.X.X.X

IPv4 address of the default gateway : X.X.X.X
Cluster IPv4 address : X.X.X.X (NOTE: This IP address will be used
for Management)
Configure the DNS Server IPv4 address? (yes/no) [n]: y
DNS IPv4 address : X.X.X.X
Configure the default domain name? (yes/no) [n]: y
Default domain name: domain.com Apply and save the configuration
(select no if you want to re-enter)? (yes/no): yes
Now connect to the console port of the secondary FI and power it on. Once again,
you need to follow like below.
Enter the configuration method. (console/gui) ? console
Installer has detected the presence of a peer Fabric interconnect.
This Fabric interconnect will be added to the cluster. Continue (y/n) ?
y
Enter the admin password of the peer Fabric interconnect: password
Physical Switch Mgmt0 IPv4 address : X.X.X.X
Apply and save the configuration (select no if you want to reenter)? (yes/no): yes
Both Fabric Interconnects should now be configured with basic IP and Cluster IP
information.

5. Launch the UCS manager using the cluster IP. Click Launch UCS Manager .

6. Once the UCS manager is launched , you need to configure certain polices to
scan the chassis.