Ask the Expert : Initial Set Up and LAN Connectivity for Cisco UCS Servers

[ciscomoderator]

Welcome to the Cisco Support Community Ask the Expert conversation. This is an opportunity to learn and ask questions about related to the initial setup of UCS C & B Series which include LAN connectivity from the UCS perspective with Cisco subject matter expert Kenny Perez.

In particularly, Kenny will cover topics such as: ESXi/Windows  installations, RAID configurations (best practices for good performance and configuration), VLAN/Jumbo Frames configuration for B series and C series servers, Pools/Policies/Upgrades/Templates/Troubleshooting Tips for blade and rack servers, Fabric Interconnects configuration, general compatibility of Hardware/Software/drivers amongst other topics

Kenny Perez is a technical leader in Cisco Technical Assistance Center, where he works in Server Virtualization support team. His main job consists of supporting customers to implement and manage Cisco UCS B series and C series. He has background in computing, networking, and Vmware ESXi and has 3+ years of experience support UCS servers and is VCP certified.

Remember to use the rating system to let Kenny know if he has given you an adequate response. 

This event lasts through October 10th, 2014. Visit this forum often to view responses to your questions and the questions of other Cisco Support Community members.

[Keny Perez]

Hello,

Thanks for the question... So you are thinking about integrating the new rack (C-series) server to UCSM?  If yes, then you can use the same pair of Fabric Interconnects, there is no issue; but you may also leave the case in standalone and have it totally separate from UCSM.

What would you like me to describe about UCS Manager and its licensing?

About the UCSPE I cannot tell you cause I normally dont use it but you may ask here:

https://communities.cisco.com/community/technology/datacenter/ucs_management/content?filterID=contentstatus[published]~category[ucs-platform-emulator]

-Kenny

[Yogesh Vashisht]

Hi Kenny ,

Thanks for you support

[Keny Perez]

Sure, anytime but what did you wanna know about UCSM  and it's licensing?

[Yogesh Vashisht]

Hi,

Actually  we have UCS 6248 fabric interconnect - first twelve ports are enabled  and same in Cisco UCS Manager.

But when more port will be active by expansion module  then UCSM can manage that too or need any other licence  for UCSM too?

[Walter Dey]

You need a port license on FI, whether it's on the base board, and/or the expansion modules.

see http://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/products/collateral/servers-unified-computing/ucs-b-series-blade-servers/6200_SpecSheet.pdf

For the 6248 FI, 8 of the 32 base FI ports are prelicensed and 8 of the 16 Gigabit Expansion Module (GEM) ports are prelicensed.

For the 6296 FI, 18 of the 48 base FI ports are prelicensed and 8 ports of each GEM are prelicensed.

[Keny Perez]

You will only need additional licenses for the ports that do not come with embedded licenses, as you see in Walter's answer.

If you enable a port that doesn't have a license, the port will begin a grace period of 120 days.

Let me know if you have any other doubt.

-Kenny