Duration
3 days
Overview
This course presents VxRail installation and implementation procedures. It covers implementation planning, hardware installation, validation of the network environment, system initialization, post-deployment tasks, cluster expansion, and implementation troubleshooting. Hands-on labs, video demonstrations, and interactive simulations are included in the course to provide a step-by step walkthrough of the key installation and implementation procedures.
Audience
This course is intended for all audiences that are responsible for the installation and implementation of VxRail systems.
Prerequisite Knowledge/Skills
This course assumes that the students are familiar with:
- Basic understanding of converged and hyper-converged infrastructure
- Technical proficiency with all VMware vSphere components
- Knowledge of Layer-2 Networking
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- Plan for a VxRail deployment
- Create a VxRail cluster configuration with the VxRail Configuration Portal
- Generate VxRail installation procedures with SolVe
- Rack and cable VxRail hardware
- Configure VxRail node iDRAC and system time
- Validate the network for deployment
- Deploy VxRail clusters in various deployment configurations
- Perform post-deployment validation talks
- Perform post-deployment configuration tasks
- Perform VxRail software upgrade
- Perform VxRail cluster expansion
- Perform VxRail installation troubleshooting
Course Outline
The content of this course is designed to support the course objectives.
Module 1 – Plan for a VxRail Deployment▬ Review VxRail architecture and deployment process.
▬ Identify vCenter Server deployment options and requirements.
▬ Identify VxRail network deployment options and requirements.
▬ Identify VxRail node discovery options and requirements
Module 2 – Use VxRail Configuration Portal to prepare for VxRail deployment
▬ VxRail Configuration Portal Overview
▬ Create VxRail Project
▬ Create VxRail cluster configuration
▬ Interaction: Create a VxRail Cluster Configuration
▬ Export VxRail configuration report
▬ Review pre-deployment checklist
▬ Interaction: Export a Configuration Report and Review the Pre Deployment Checklist.
▬ Download VxRail configuration file for deployment
Module 3 – VxRail Management
▬ Process Overview
▬ Rack VxRail nodes and Connect power
▬ Cable to ToR switches
▬ Power On VxRail Nodes
▬ Configure iDRAC and system time for VxRail nodes
▬ Interaction: Configure iDRAC network settings using the system BIOS method and validate system time.
Module 4 – Use SolVe to generate VxRail Install procedure
▬ Generate procedure for installing and configuring the VxRail cluster.
▬ Lab: Generate VxRail Installation Procedure
Module 5 – Validate network environment for deployment
▬ Configure tagged management VLAN ID on VxRail nodes
▬ Interaction: Modify default management network VLAN ID
▬ Configure access to VxRail Manager VM
▬ Lab: Configure VxRail Manager VM network settings
▬ Validate the network environment manually
▬ Lab: Manually Validate Network Environment
▬ Validate the network environment using the Network Validation Tool (NVT)
▬ Lab: Validate network with NVT
Module 6 – Deploy a VxRail cluster
▬ Deploy a standard VxRail cluster with VxRail-managed vCenter Server
▬ Interaction: Deploy a standard VxRail Cluster with VxRailmanaged vCenter and predefined VDS.
▬ Deploy a standard VxRail cluster with existing vCenter Server
▬ Lab: Prepare the existing vCenter Server
▬ Lab: VxRail deployment with an existing vCenter Server and VxRail-deployed VDS.
Module 7 – Perform post deployment tasks
▬ Verify VxRail cluster deployment using VxRail Plugin
▬ Lab: Verify VxRail deployment using VxRail Plugin
▬ Perform vSAN health check
▬ Lab: Review vSAN Health
▬ Add VMware licenses
▬ Enable vSAN Performance Service
▬ Lab: Enable vSAN Performance Service
▬ Enable vSAN Space Efficiency Services
▬ Lab: Enable vSAN Space Efficiency
▬ Enable vSAN Encryption Services
▬ Create vSAN storage policies
▬ Lab: Create Storage Policy
▬ Configure Dell support account and Secure Remote Services
▬ Configure VxRail Manager file-based backup
▬ Lab: Configure VxRail Manager file-based backup
Module 8 - Perform VxRail Software Upgrade
▬ Interaction: Perform VxRail Software Upgrade
Module 9 - Perform VxRail cluster expansion
▬ Expand a VxRail cluster by adding nodes in a single rack
▬ Lab: Add a node to a VxRail cluster
Module 10 - Troubleshoot VxRail implementations
▬ VxRail Implementation Process Troubleshooting
▬ Search Dell knowledge base for VxRail implementation errors
▬ Perform log collection
▬ Lab: Perform log collection
▬ Troubleshoot vSAN using vSphere Client and ESXCLI
▬ Troubleshoot vSAN using Node Image Management Tool
In addition to lecture and demonstrations, this course includes labs designed to allow practical experience for the participant.
Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.