FlexPod Datacenter Deployment Guide: End-to-End 100G, Intersight Managed Mode, IaC, VMware 7U3, NetApp ONTAP 9.11

FlexPod Datacenter Solution Overview

The FlexPod Datacenter solution is a validated approach for deploying Cisco and NetApp technologies to build shared private and public cloud infrastructure. This guide covers the deployment of FlexPod Datacenter incorporating 5th Generation Cisco UCS components, managed from the cloud using Cisco Intersight Managed Mode (IMM). The solution provides a resilient, scalable, and modular design that supports modern applications and traditional workloads.

Key Advantages

• Simpler and programmable infrastructure: Infrastructure as code delivered through a single partner-integrable open API.
• End-to-End 100Gbps Ethernet: Utilizes 5th Generation Cisco UCS VIC 15231, Cisco UCS 6536 Fabric Interconnects, and UCSX-I-9108-100G Intelligent Fabric Modules.
• Innovative cloud operations: Continuous feature delivery via Cisco Intersight, eliminating the need for on-premise management virtual machines.
• Investment protection: Design ready for future technologies, including liquid cooling and high-wattage CPUs.

Deployment and Automation

The deployment process leverages Ansible playbooks to automate the configuration of Cisco Nexus switches, NetApp ONTAP storage, Cisco UCS, Cisco MDS, and VMware ESXi. The guide details the preparation of a management workstation, cloning the necessary GitHub repositories, and executing playbooks for network, storage, and compute layers. For manual configurations, the guide provides step-by-step procedures for initial setup, VLAN configuration, and storage initialization.

Cisco Intersight Managed Mode

Cisco Intersight Managed Mode (IMM) is a new architecture that manages Cisco UCS fabric interconnect-attached systems through a Redfish-based standard model. This guide outlines the setup of Cisco Intersight accounts, licensing, resource groups, and organizations, followed by the claiming of Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnects. It also covers the configuration of Cisco UCS Domain Profiles, which streamline fabric interconnect pair configuration through reusable policies.

Storage and Virtualization

The solution integrates NetApp AFF A800/A400 storage with VMware vCenter. Detailed procedures are provided for ONTAP storage configuration, including boot storage setup, and the installation of VMware ESXi 7.0U3. The guide also highlights the use of NetApp ONTAP Tools for VMware vSphere to manage storage and data protection, including the deployment of the SnapCenter plug-in for application-consistent backups.