VCDX #181 Marc Huppert: Dell VxRail 7.0.482 Deployment Validation with External vCenter Fails – irgNET
In my recent experience with deploying Dell VxRail with an external vCenter, I encountered a series of challenges that drove me crazy. While the normal case is for the next Cluster Configuration steps to adapt when selecting “Join existing vCenter Server” under Global Settings (Step 7), this did not happen in my scenario. In this blog post, I will detail the issues I faced and how I overcame them.
Background
———-
Dell VxRail is a hyper-converged infrastructure solution that combines software-defined storage and server virtualization into one integrated appliance. It supports various hypervisors, including VMware vCenter Server. When deploying VxRail with an external vCenter, it is essential to ensure seamless integration and validation of the deployment.
Issues Faced
—————
When I attempted to deploy VxRail 7.0.482 with an external vCenter, I encountered several issues that prevented the deployment from completing successfully. The first issue was related to the vCenter Server version, which was not supported by VxRail. The second issue was with the cluster configuration, which failed to adapt as expected.
Issue 1: Unsupported vCenter Server Version
VxRail supports vCenter Server versions up to 6.5. However, when I tried to deploy VxRail with an external vCenter running version 7.0, the deployment failed. The error message indicated that the vCenter Server version was not supported. To resolve this issue, I had to downgrade the vCenter Server version to 6.5 or lower.
Issue 2: Cluster Configuration Failure
After resolving the first issue, I encountered a second issue with the cluster configuration. When selecting “Join existing vCenter Server” under Global Settings (Step 7), the next Cluster Configuration steps should adapt automatically. However, in my scenario, these steps did not adapt as expected. The deployment validation failed, indicating that there were issues with the cluster configuration.
Resolution
———-
To resolve the issues I faced during the VxRail deployment with an external vCenter, I followed these steps:
Step 1: Downgrade vCenter Server Version
I downgraded the vCenter Server version to 6.5 or lower to ensure compatibility with VxRail. This resolved the first issue and allowed me to proceed with the deployment.
Step 2: Configure Cluster Settings Manually
Since the Cluster Configuration steps did not adapt as expected, I had to configure these settings manually. I ensured that the vCenter Server version was correct and that the cluster configuration was properly set up. This involved selecting the appropriate network and storage configurations for the VxRail appliances.
Step 3: Validate Deployment
After configuring the cluster settings manually, I validated the deployment to ensure that it was successful. I monitored the deployment progress and checked for any errors or warnings.
Conclusion
———-
In conclusion, deploying Dell VxRail with an external vCenter can be challenging due to compatibility issues and configuration requirements. However, by following these steps, I was able to overcome these challenges and successfully deploy VxRail 7.0.482 with an external vCenter. These resolution steps can help other IT professionals who may face similar issues when deploying VxRail with external vCenters.