Microsoft Network Load Balancing Configuration on Cisco Switches

Reference link for MS NLB configuration on Catalyst switches.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps708/products_configuration_example09186a0080a07203.shtml#mm

Nexus 5K 130 Day Restart Field Notice

I have had several questions arise around the Nexus 5000 field notice #63560 - Nexus 5000 System Restart after 130 days of uptime.  This issue only affects 5K switches that are running the following version of software, AND have the LAN_BASE_SERVICES_PKG license installed:

• 5.1(3)N1(1) 
• 5.1(3)N1(1a) 
• 5.1(3)N2(1) 
• 5.1(3)N2(1a) 

If you purchase an L3 daughter card for the 5K switch, the LAN_BASE_SERVICES_PKG ships with it.  The following L3 features are included with the card/license:

• Static routing 
• RIPv2 
• OSPFv2 
• EIGRP stub
• HSRP 
• VRRP 
• IGMP v2/v3 
• PIMv2 (sparse mode) 
• routed ACL
• uRPF

If you are just using the 5K switch as solely an L2 device, this field notice should not be of concern.

Source: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/ts/fn/635/fn63560.html

UCS Pre-Login Banner

Have you ever wanted to configure a pre-login banner for your UCS system?  I haven't, but for those of you that would like this added feature in your environment, here's how:
-Navigate within UCSM to the Admin tab -> User Management -> User Services -> Banners tab.

-Click on the Create Pre-Login Banner Action, and enter a message in the pop-up box.  Only text is currently supported with this feature.

-The banner will appear for both GUI and CLI system-wide logins.

A pre-login banner can also be configured from the UCS command line using the following guide:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/cli/config/guide/2.0/b_UCSM_CLI_Configuration_Guide_2_0_chapter_011.html#concept_5415580F234F4CE1AE4A39395E236E1A

UCS Local Disk Configuration Policy Location

There is a type-o in the Cisco UCS Configuration Guide regarding the location of Local Disk Configuration Policies.  The document describes the location of the Local Disk Configuration Policy to be within the Servers tab -> Service Profile -> Policies tab, when in fact the Local Disk Configuration Policy is located under the service profile in the Storage tab.  You can find it in the top left corner in the Actions box.

Source: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/gui/config/guide/2.0/b_UCSM_GUI_Configuration_Guide_2_0_chapter_011100.html

Bare Metal UCS Blade vNIC Configuration

When configuring bare metal installation of an OS on a UCS blade, you need to take into consideration the fact that the UCS vethernet ports are always trunk interfaces..  To essentially make a vNIC into an "access" port, you would need to configure 1 VLAN per vNIC, with the Native VLAN checkbox checked so that packets set across that trunk are untagged.

Alternatively, you can leave multiple VLANs on the vNIC trunk interface, and configure subinterfaces/trunking at the OS level.

Migrate Nexus 1000v to New vCenter

Great set of instructions for migrating to a new Virtual Center when using the Nexus 1000v DVS:
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1020893

From a recent experience, steps number 7 and 9 should be reversed (configure new SVS connection parameters before importing the extension key to vCenter).  Also note, there doesn't seem to be a step #8... Not sure why!

VM-FEX Deployment on UCS Now Easier!

If you are interested in deploying VM-FEX on the UCS, ESX/ESXi host .vib files are now accessible from the UCSM home page: