Cisco Storage Server Node Configuration

Prior to Commvault HyperScale software installation each server must meet basic minimum configuration requirements. These steps must be completed in full prior to imaging or configuration servers with Commvault HyperScale and are not included in Commvault Professional Servers. Failure to complete all steps below will result in delays to configure Commvault software and storage.

The steps outlined below apply only to Cisco Reference Design UCS C220, C240, or S3260 server nodes. Cisco UCS Managed and unmanaged servers will require different procedures to achieve the following configurations. Refer to Cisco documentation for specific steps required to complete this configuration.

Cisco UCS C240 M5 Configuration Only

1.	Boot drive - SSD drives Create a RAID1 volume for the two SSD drives to be used for OS volume. Set BIOS to boot from RAID1 volume.
2.	Metadata drive - NVMe Dedicated metadata SSD or NVMe drive require no further configuration. Commvault HyperScale ISO will detect and format drive during initial imaging process.
3.	Storage Pool drives Storage Pool Large Form Factor (LFF) should have no RAID and no special configuration. Commvault HyperScale ISO will detect and format drives during initial imaging process. Ensure all LFF drives are labeled as "Unconfigured Good" and not part of a RAID group. Continue to Step 4 below.

Boot drive - SSD drives

Create a RAID1 volume for the two SSD drives to be used for OS volume.

Set BIOS to boot from RAID1 volume.

Metadata drive - NVMe

Dedicated metadata SSD or NVMe drive require no further configuration.

Commvault HyperScale ISO will detect and format drive during initial imaging process.

Storage Pool drives

Storage Pool Large Form Factor (LFF) should have no RAID and no special configuration.

Commvault HyperScale ISO will detect and format drives during initial imaging process.

Ensure all LFF drives are labeled as "Unconfigured Good" and not part of a RAID group.

Continue to Step 4 below.

Cisco UCS S3260 M5 Configuration Only

0.	Disk Zoning Ensure each node is assigned the correct type and number of drives. Each node should be zoned as follows: 2 - Rear mount boot SSD drives; 4 - Top load meta data SSD drives; 24 - Top load Large Form Factor (LFF) data drives. Continue to Step 2.
1.	Boot drive - Rear mounted SSD drives Create a RAID1 volume for the two rear mounted boot SSD drives to be used for OS volume. Set BIOS to boot from RAID1 volume. Continue to Step 3.
2.	Metadata drive - Top load SSD drives Create a RAID5 volume for the top load SSD drives to be used for meta data volume. Continue to Step 3.
3.	Storage Pool drives Storage Pool Large Form Factor (LFF) should have no RAID and no special configuration. Commvault HyperScale ISO will detect and format drives during initial imaging process. Ensure all LFF drives are labeled as "JBOD" and not part of a RAID group. Continue to Step 4 below.

Both Cisco UCS S3260 M5 and UCS C240 M5 Network Configuration

4.	Networking and switch configuration Create a minimum of two VLAN's as follows: VLAN 1 = data protection network for public interface(s) VLAN 2 = internode network (storage-pool VLAN) for private interface(s). Bandwidth assigned to the storage-pool VLAN should be the same as total bandwidth for all data-protection VLAN's. Ensure all server ports are connected to 10Gb (or more) ports on network switches. If multiple VLANs are required for data protection, offsite copies etc..., ensure all VLANs are configured on switches. Total number of vNIC's required will depend on number of isolated data-protection VLAN's. IF servers are NOT managed by UCS Manager, Number of server vNIC's required = 4x number of data-protection VLAN's. IF servers are managed by UCS Manager (with fabric-Interconnects), Network resilience is through fabric-failover.

Networking and switch configuration

Create a minimum of two VLAN's as follows:

VLAN 1 = data protection network for public interface(s)
VLAN 2 = internode network (storage-pool VLAN) for private interface(s).

Bandwidth assigned to the storage-pool VLAN should be the same as total bandwidth for all data-protection VLAN's.

Ensure all server ports are connected to 10Gb (or more) ports on network switches.

If multiple VLANs are required for data protection, offsite copies etc..., ensure all VLANs are configured on switches.

Total number of vNIC's required will depend on number of isolated data-protection VLAN's.

IF servers are NOT managed by UCS Manager, Number of server vNIC's required = 4x number of data-protection VLAN's.

IF servers are managed by UCS Manager (with fabric-Interconnects), Network resilience is through fabric-failover.