UCS with vsphere to BFS on IBM XIV

Hello,
It seems that IBM XIV storage has a limitation around the minimum LUN size, which appears to be 17 GB. Taking into consideration that one of the added values of UCS is the boot from SAN using the service profiles, and that most of the UCS implementations are based on VMware (the OS of which, ESXi barely needs 300 MB of installation), that means one has to underutilize 17GB LUNs for ESXi booting, which might be a waste of money. I was wondering whether anyone here found the same issue in their customers and whether does this also happen in other disk arrays (EMC Symmetrix for instance), or only in IBM XIV.
Thanks a lot,

Dani,
Also check out this blog. I thought you maybe able to get around this by creating a thin provisioned pool, and then creating multiple LUN's for your ESXi hosts in that pool, however, it looks like on the first write to that LUN it is going to attempt to take the 17GB min LUN size.
I think you maybe stuck with the 17GB LUN per host. I will say that some other storage vendors do not have this 'limitation', this is due to the XIV architecture.
http://patrickv.info/wordpress/2009/07/ibm-xiv-thin-provisioning/
Regards,
Jeremy

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High User IO with Oracle and IBM XIV Storage

Hi
We are using oracle 10.2.0.4 with IBM XIV storage and we have very high user IO in the database. We faced this issue after migrating our storage from SCV to XIV. Almost all our DB backgroud jobs are running for long hours after this migration.
Is there any oracle parameters require to modify to reduce this user IO? Any parameter modification required in XIV? Please advice

There is no such parameter, sy is yanking your chain. This is the typical response when people ask for a solution akin to a magic switch they can flip to have the database run faster.
The long version is that without supplying technical information the best you can hope for is WAG (Wild Ass Guesses) as to where your problem may be found. Did you raise a support request with IBM? Did you run any statistics? What have you checked so far?
You will need to help provide information for people to help you in a free volunteer forum.
If you want a magic switch solution without doing any work yourself there are plenty of consultancy firms who will happily solve your problem for money.

UCS integration with vSphere - invalid URI error

Hi,
I am struggling to integrate UCS Manager with vSphere vCenter.
The vCenter extension is being exported from UCSM without any errors, but when trying to install the plugin via vCenter Plug-in Manager I am getting this error:
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I've found this on the web, but this doesn't bring me any closer to resolving the problem:
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Regards,
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Hi Radek,
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Michael

ISCSI Booting Win2k8R2 on UCS with EqualLogic

We've been testing iSCSI booting on UCS with 2.0(1t) and the Palo M81KR with an EqualLogic PS6010. We are connecting through a 10GbE switch via an uplink port. However, we've hit a snag and want to see if anyone else has gotten around this.
The EQL shows connections from UCS when booting; however, Windows does not have the Palo drivers and doesn't show the target disk. When adding the M81KR driver, the connection gets dropped so Windows still does not show the target disk.
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We've also tried slipstreaming all UCS drivers into the Windows media but that doesn't let us proceed either.
We've gotten RHEL6 to install so we know the configuration is viable.

Hello Thomas,
The EQL shows connections from UCS when booting; however, Windows does not have the Palo drivers and doesn't show the target disk. When adding the M81KR driver, the connection gets dropped so Windows still does not show the target disk.
There is small trick to make the target disks visible after installing the right drivers. Please make sure that after re-mapping the W2K8 ISO image, click Refresh button on the Installer screen and verify the outcome.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/b/os/windows/install/2008-vmedia-install.html#wp1059547
Driver location in driver ISO image
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/b/os/windows/install/drivers-app.html#wp1014709
Padma

UCS with C-Series Servers

What do we need to create a standalone UCS with 3 x C210 servers

Connection options will be anything compatible with the Nexus 5000 series of switches and FEXs. This can be Optics or Copper (Twinax).
In choosing one over the other I would base it mainly on distance requirements.
If you can connect the 6100's and FEXs within 10m then go with twinax cable.
- Twinax is about 1/10th the cost of optical transceivers and OM3 fibre cable.
- Twinax uses less power (0.1W for twinax vs. 1W per fibre)
- Twinax has lower latency than fibre.
If you need a length longer than 10m then optics would be your only choice.
Full details on transceiver compatibility here:
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Regards,
Robert

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I am having trouble setting up a port-channel between MDS & UCS with a particular vsan. I was able to get a port-channel setup on VSAN 1 between and MDS9513 5.0(4d) and UCS 6120 XP 4.2 (1). When I try to do it with a specifc VSAN it fails. I set the VSAN on the 9513 interfaces and created the port-channel but it looks like it still wants to default to VSAN 1 when I do a sh int. I have added the same VSAN on the UCS side as well. I have tried to see if could set the vsan on the port-channel but it doesn't look like that command is offered. Any ideas?

Hello
Having no exp of UCS switches, this may be a bit off, but....
The vsan the port channel PORTS are in is of no consequence. The VSAN's that are allowed to traverse the trunk are the important bits. i.e:
interface port-channel 1
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switchport trunk allowed vsan add 80
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Driver issue? with docked T61, and 31P9490- IBM USB Travel Keyboard w/ UltraNav and sleep mode

Can someone from Lenovo please advise me on which version drivers need to be installed for the external keyboard and mouse, and/or the proper power setting(s) to use with this configuration so the machine will react and wake up from its nap with a Fn+F4 on the external keyboard?
T61 7658-CTO, 3GB RAM, Vista Business Ultimate. These are the external IBM/Lenovo devices used:
250410U     THINKPAD ADVANCED MINI DOCK
31P9490    IBM USB TRAVEL KEYBOARD W/ULTRANAV
31P8700     SCROLLPOINT PRO OPTICAL MOUSE
I have an issue with waking my T61 up from sleep mode while it’s docked and using the external keyboard, mouse, and monitor. When the machine is docked, the blue Fn keys or the Think Vantage button do not function on the external keyboard.
The external keyboard seems to be the same as the internal keyboard installed in the TP- which I thought would react the same as the internal keyboard when I installed the driver that it came with. I had hoped something this simple would be easier than it now seems.
Thanks in advance!
Cheers, Mark
Message Edited by masnider on 12-16-2008 03:33 PM
Message Edited by masnider on 12-16-2008 03:42 PM
Message Edited by masnider on 12-16-2008 03:42 PM

Thanks for the advice Izzy. After installing both sets of keyboard and hotkey drivers it does respond to most (but not all) blue Fn key combinations as marked on the external keyboard. The blue ThinkVantage button still does not respond.
Oddly enough, I am able to use the Fn+F4 key combination to put it into sleep mode and to bring it back out, but when the display comes back I have no control of the UltraNav pad, track pointer, or mouse. I had to open the TP cover slightly and use the pad to get past the login screen to the desktop.
Incidently, just after using the UltraNav pad on the machine as it was slightly open a couple of messages popped up onscreen involving the USB port(s). One indicated it was searching for a new device driver for a USB connected device, and the other indicated I could benefit from connecting the device to a high- speed USB port by unpluging the low-speed hub and connecting directly to an available high-speed USB port.
Interestingly, I don't have any external hub connected. It may have identified the docking station USB ports as low-speed, which I don't believe they are...any ideas for what to do with this new set of issues?
Thanks, Mark

Anyone had problems with BouncyCastle on AIX using IBM's JVM 1.3.0?

I'm having an issue on AIX with IBM's JVM 1.3.0; the same code and configuration has worked on other OSs and JVMs, including the IBM JVM on Linux and Win2K. The JVM is barfing with a ClassCastException before even the first line of my code is being executed. The rather cryptic (no pun intended) error message is:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ClassCastException: org.bouncycastle.jce.X509Principal
The only reference I've seen on this is here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=java.lang.ClassCastException:+org.bouncycastle.jce.X509Principal&hl=en&safe=off&rnum=1&selm=8s3l7u%249ks1%40webint.na.informix.com
Anyone else seen this? Any AIX/IBM JVM 1.3.0/BouncyCastle users out there?
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Matthew
Matthew T. Adams [[email protected]]
Software Engineer, Architecture Group
www.highwire.com

You have the same problem that I was very annoyed.
Remove your IBMJCEfw.jar from %JAVA_HOME%/jre/lib/ext directory.
Anyway , I believe this message and exception is not appropriate ,
or at least unkind one.
I hope the ClassCastException will be handled and another message
and Exception thrown such as "UnverifiedProviderException" in
future release of JCE.
# I'll submit a bug-report later.
UKAI Hiroshi

Cisco UCS with FEX system Component requirements

Hi ,
I am looking for quick suggestion for required components to have a VMware vSAN implemented using FEX system with maximum Fabric trough put. Ideally a configuration for without multipath using single Fabric switch and later on to be able to upgrade to Multipath fabric.
We are in great rush to provide POC concept and was looking if you folks can suggest me on this. If need be you want to talk to me more in detail I can available.
Appreciate your help here.
Who can I reach to able to pull up build and quote the configurations for implementing complete UCS solution.
Are these below components absolutely required ?
2 x Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extenders
The Cisco Nexus 2232PP 10GE provides 32 x 10Gb loss-less low latency Ethernet and Fiber Channel Over Ethernet (FCoE) Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+) server ports and eight 10 Gb Ethernet and FCoE SFP+ uplink ports in a compact 1 rack unit (1RU) form factor. They enable Seamless inclusion of UCS rack servers into UCS Manager domain with UCS blade servers when connected to the UCS 6200 Fabric Interconnects, providing converged LAN, SAN, and management connectivity.
We currently have these below servers :
2 x UCSC-BASE-M2-C460
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        No VIC Card
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        1 x L1 Intel 1 Gbps Ethernet Adapter
        1 x L2 10Gbps Ethernet Adapter
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1 x UCSC-C240-M3L
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        30 TB SAS HDD
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1 x 5548UP Nexus Switch ( Will I be able to use this switch in place of Nexus 2232PP 10GE Fabric Extenders to achieve complete UCS solution)

Cisco UCS Manager 2.2 supports an option to connect the C-Series Rack-Mount Server directly to the Fabric Interconnects. You do not need the Fabric Extenders. This option enables Cisco UCS Manager to manage the C-Series Rack-Mount Servers using a single cable for both management traffic and data traffic.
If you need high performance low latency (storage, for VMware VSAN), direct connection to UCS Fabric Interconnect and/or N5k is recommended.

UCS with UCCX 8.5

Hello I need help!
What are the recommendation to install CCX-85 over UCS-CS210M2-VCD2.
can anyone help me?
Best Regards.

Can you eleborate your on your question? What exactly are you looking for?
CCX 8.5 is supported on this hardware with 3 different deployment sizes (OVA files) 100, 300 and 400 as documented here:
http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Virtualization_for_Unified_CCX
http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Unified_Communications_Virtualization_Downloads_%28including_OVA/OVF_Templates%29#Cisco_Unified_Contact_Center_Express
HTH,
Chris

Fault tolerance hardware with vSphere 5.5

Hi,
I'm trying to test vSphere 5.5.
So i have 5 physical machines : 2 ESXi, 1 Domain Controller, 1 vCenter, and a Freenas for iSCSI.
ESXi01 : Intel Core i3 540 with 8 GB RAM and 120 GB SSD, 2 NIC
ESXi02 : Intel Core i3 4150 with 8 GB RAM and 250 GB SATA, 2 NIC
Hosted an OpenBSD VM (128 MB RAM, 1vCPU)
I tested :
- vMotion works
- High Availability works (with EVC enabled).
Now I tried Fault Tolerance : no success
To have FT, do i need absolutely the same CPU on the 2 ESXi ?? Any advices ?
Thank you very much for your reply.

Hi,
Thank you very much.
I tried SiteSurvey Plugin, now i know why it doesn't work
These ESX hosts are not compatible with FT, but may contain VMs that are:
esxi02.vclass.local
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How do I sync the Reminders of IOS 5 with my To Do in IBM Lotus Notes Traveler?

I want to sync the Reminders from my Iphone 4 IOS 5 with my IBM Lotus Notes using Traveler. Is this possible?

It doesn't look like you can...
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21512456

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Also says VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15).
Here's a link to specs
Thanks!

You can just connect the screen you mentioned by using the DVI connector.
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On a DVI-I port you can connect a DVI-A and a DVI-D screen.
On a DVI-A port you can only connect a DVI-A screen
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UC on UCS with iSCSI

Hi,
I was wondering if there is any update regarding UC on UCS support for booting from iSCSI SAN?
I would like to implement the follwoing scenario: B-Series Chassis with an ESX 5.1 B200M3 Server which hosts UC Apps (UCSM 2.1).
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http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/UC_Virtualization_Supported_Hardware#Storage
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Hello Dmitri,
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Please check here for minimum HW / SW requirements
https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-18756
HCL - HW / SW / FW Matrix
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10477/prod_technical_reference_list.html
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Hi!
We are currently using vsphere 5.5 licensed by the essentials plus kit. We are planning to upgrade to vsphere 6.0 in near future, when vmware is ready with the first patches. We want to use the appliance as vsphere server.
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This topic first appeared in the Spiceworks Community

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UCS with vsphere to BFS on IBM XIV

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