Sunday, May 12, 2013

Creating a Virtual Distributed Switch on vSphere 5.1

I was working last week and had to work through the steps to make a vDS in vCenter. I went through the steps like the system was a live production system though only the virtualized vCenter server was on the 2 server datacenter.

The steps aren't linear, and there needs to be a little more polishing on the wizard on VMware's part. For posterity I'd like to toss this out there for anyone that might be struggling with the process.

Virtual Distributed Switch Configuration

Scope: This document will explain the process of installing a virtual distributed switch in a vCenter 5.1 infrastructure environment. This document will then go on to explain how to convert from a Standard switch environment to a Distributed Switch environment on a live production network.
Prerequisites:
-          vCenter installed
-          2 NICs per switch (for live migration)
-          vLAN and IP information

S    Site Setup:
k      The site has 4 Standard Virtual Switches: Management, Storage, Data, and vMotion. The Storage Standard Switch has two vmk connections to enable fail-over for software iSCSI. I left the Management on a Standard Virtual Switch and migrated all others.

      I used this YouTube video to understand the concepts of the Virtual Distributed Switch:


1.       Steps to create a Virtual Distributed Switch:
a.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking
b.      Right-click on the DataCenter where the vDS is to be created
c.       Use the latest version available. Next.
d.      General Properties
                                                              i.      Name the switch
                                                            ii.      Add the number of Uplink ports (think each of these as the number of physical ports each ESXi host has – 6 for the example below)
                                                          iii.      Next
e.      Toggle to ‘add hosts later’
f.        Next and Finish
g.   Right click on the newly created vDS and edit setting.
h.   To the right of the 'Number of Uplinks' there is a 'Rename Uplinks' click
i.   Rename the Uplinks Storage1 and Storage 2, Data 1 and data 2, vmotion 1 and vmotion 2. This ensures that the correct dvuplinks are paired to the correct port groups.
Process to Migrate switching from Standard Switching to Distributed Switching on a live environment with no down-time:
1.       For vMotion (both NICs at once no current vmotion operations)
a.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking
b.      Create a vmotion Distributed Port Group by:
                                                              i.      Right click the Distributed Switch and Add a New port Group
c.       Right Click on vmotion and ‘Edit Settings’
d.      Click ‘Teaming and Failover’
e.      Move all Uplinks to ‘Unused’ except vmotion1 and vmtion2
f.        ok
g.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking, right click vDS and ‘Manage Hosts’
h.      Check which ESX server you want to move NICs from. Next
i.        Click on the 2 vMotion NICs Next
j.        Migrate the vMotion vmk to the correct port group Next
k.       Next
l.        Finish
m.    Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters Configuration, Networking, Distributed Swtich
n.      Click ‘Manage Physical NICs…’
o.      Remove them from the dvuplink if they are incorrect and place them appropriately
p.   Ok
2.       For Data (one NIC at a time already connected)
a.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking
b.      Create a Data Distributed Port Group by:
                                                              i.      Right click the Distributed Switch and Add a New port Group
c.       Right Click on Data and ‘Edit Settings’
d.      Click ‘Teaming and Failover’
e.      Move all Uplinks to ‘Unused’ except Data1 and Data2
f.        ok
g.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking, right click vDS and ‘Manage Hosts’
h.      Check which ESX server you want to move the NIC from. Next
i.        Click on the second NIC Next
j.        Migrate nothing Next
k.       Next
l.        Finish
m.    Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters Configuration, Networking, Distributed Switch
n.      Click ‘Manage Physical NICs…’
o.      Remove it from the dvuplink if it is incorrect and place it appropriately
p.      Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters Configuration
q.      Navigate to the virtual machine
r.        Click ‘Edit Setting’
s.       Edit the NIC to point to the dv switch. Ok.
t.        Navigate to Inventory/Networking, right click vDS and ‘Manage Hosts’
u.      Check which ESX server you want to move the NIC from. Next
v.       Click on the first NIC Next
w.     Migrate nothing Next
x.       Next
y.       Finish
z.       Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters Configuration, Networking, Distributed Swtich
aa.   Click ‘Manage Physical NICs…’
bb.  Remove them from the dvuplink where if it is incorrect and place it appropriately
3.       For iSCSI software adapter with fail-over (one NIC at a time already connected)
a.       Navigate to Inventory/Networking
b.      Create two Distributed Port Groups, Storage1 and a Storage2
                                                              i.      Right click the Distributed Switch and Add a New port Group for each
c.       Right Click on Storage1 and ‘Edit Settings’
d.      Click ‘Teaming and Failover’
e.      Move all Uplinks to ‘Unused’ except Storage1
f.   Repeat steps c -e on Storage2        
g.       Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters ESXi host Configuration/Storage Adapters
h.      Right click on vmhba32 iSCSI Software adapter and Properties…
i.        Navigate to the ‘Network Configuration’ Tab and remove one of the Storage Port Binding Storage2
j.        Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters ESXi host Configuration /Networking/vSphere Standard Switch
k.       Under Properties of the Storage switch remove the Storage 2 NIC from ‘Network Adapters’
l.        Navigate to Inventory/Networking
m.    Right click the Distributed Switch and ‘Manage Hosts’
n.      Check the one you’ll be working with Next
o.      Select the physical adapter for Storage2 that you just unassigned Next
p.      Pick the vmk that was attached to the Storage2, use the drop down list to pick the Storage2 Destination Port Group. Next
q.      Next
r.        Finish
s.       Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters Configuration, Networking, Distributed Switch
t.        Click ‘Manage Physical NICs…’
u.      Remove it from the dvuplink if it is incorrect and place it appropriately
v.       Navigate to Inventory/Host and Clusters ESXi host Configuration/Storage Adapters
w.     Right click on vmhba32 iSCSI Software adapter and Properties…
x.       Navigate to the ‘Network Configuration’ Tab and add the Storage2 to Storage Port Binding – ensure it is ‘Compliant’. Ok to re-scan

y.       Repeat from Step G – X to Storage1 to ensure no down time of storage
Enhanced by Zemanta

Hobbies

Here There and Everywhere sometimes describes my thought stream.

We all define ourselves by what we do.

It takes a lifetime to really find out everything about ourselves.  And as we progress we pick up habits and hobbies that define who we are. These change as we mature and grow.

When I'm not hiking, backpacking, traveling, and working I have actually begun to do some constructive activities. Not so long ago, when I had downtime I would try to fill it with something just to fill it - either television or video games or reading - all the activities that produce nothing (granted they can produce something personal, education or dexterity, perhaps). Recently though, since being in my first truly meaningful relationship (all others before were like watching TV or playing video games, sometimes entertaining and occasionally educational but time wasters for all intents and purposes!) I have begun growing and doing meaningful activities.

It began with no longer renting. My fiance owns her house. There are things to be done, to improve the house and things to do to keep the house running. Mowing the lawn, fixing a leak, re-running out of code wiring, changing a light switch. There's also the big projects that are gratifying too - assisting with putting in a closet, renovating the kitchen, laying hardwood. The sum of these things is pride. Pride in the work that it took, pride in knowing we're capable, and pride in the improving house around us. The chores of mowing the lawn, putting mulch in the flower beds, planting flowers and trees are all gratifying too. Pulling up to a house knowing the time spent to make it look the way it does is very personally gratifying.

So now in my downtime, I'm not just trying to fill the space until the next event. I am trying to be a producer of things, no longer just a consumer of things.

Beer

I began brewing my own beer. I am producing something (for me to consume, true). And it's nice to be able to make something and then enjoy the fruits of your labor and time waiting on it to be ready. I've only brewed 7 batches so I'm still very "young" in the process, but I like the process, I like the beer I've made so far, and I love sharing it with others.
The process is relaxing and habitual; wash the bottles, sanitize the equipment, brew the beer, move the the secondary, bottle, cross-your-fingers, wait.

Garden
We've wanted a garden. But it's always been, "Next year". This year I was going to turn the soil and begin conditioning it for next. Start a compost pile this year so it will be ready "next year".
So I went to Lowes to get chicken wire to make a compost bin and ended up getting enough to enclose the garden as well. One thing lead to another and I'd made a garden!

I've tried to go as organic as possible. Next year it will be with my own compost. This year was more an experiment to see if we would enjoy doing it, and would stick with it throughout the summer. Again, I'm producing to consume. We've got tomatoes, potatoes, tomatillos, jalapenos, blueberries, and onions. Not bad for such a small plot! We'll see what survives.

 What began as just an empty sloping piece of yard...



... soon became something I think I can be proud of and find some happiness in.

I went to Texas last week and so was gone for five days. The spring rains fell often and Cara didn't need to manually water our vegies. It was nice to see that everything had survived a week and had very much flourished too! Our thumbs are turning green-ish.

Texas
As I just mentioned I went to Texas for the week, I didn't get to see much except that Dallas and surrounding area has new construction everywhere, miles and miles and miles of it. And considering the road system they are prepared for more.
I did get a chance to go to a private park (couldn't find a state park anywhere) and take a stroll. After seeing nothing but new houses in developments I really couldn't get a feel for what Texas was supposed to look like. Everything was manicured lawns, stone and brick fences, and house after same-looking house. At Hidden Cove Park I glimpsed what the state was supposed to look like. The smells were wonderful, wild flower and grass, spring, and warmth. The park had a backpacking loop with remote camping. I would have liked to spent the night under the stars in Texas. As it was I had time enough to enjoy the bird-song, the nodding wild flowers, and the warm breeze but not much more.

Enhanced by Zemanta