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ACI Mentored Install – Software Upgrade
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Overview
Description, Pre requisites -
Content
Lessons, Course Structure
ACI Mentored Service – Software Upgrade
- To maximise success for customers and partners, Cisco has introduced the mentor program to provide guidance and assistance for authorised Cisco ACI Customers and Partners.
- ACI will represent a new skill set for most networking professionals. The program acts as a transition mechanism and pathway for skill growth of internal resources.
- A mentored engagement for first-time ACI deployments is highly recommended by Cisco.
- Housley is the only Cisco-approved mentor for APJ outside of Cisco Advanced Services.
Housley ACI Mentored services
- Housley will interact with the customer/partner to support the deployment of ACI
- The customer/partner will retain control of the project/engagement
Benefits
- Delivery of first ACI solution to customers, with confidence and reduced risk
- Early access to ACI experience and expertise
- Shorter time to market for ACI capability and services
- Fast-track time for staff up-skilling on critical path for project deployment
- Reduced time to deploy – allowing resources to move on to other projects
- Potential cost reduction due to lower problem-solving time
- Build internal ACI knowledge through field experience
Partner Pre-Planning
The Channel Partner should ensure that all necessary equipment is racked, stacked, cabled, and powered-up prior to the kick-off. The customer should have the necessary software licenses.
Service Deliverables
Overall Architecture Review
- Outline/Review interaction to any existing network infrastructure
- Outline/Review High Level:
- ADC Interaction
- Security Interaction
- Compute Interaction
- Storage Interaction
- Hypervisor Interaction
- Configuration of any devices other than ACI is out of scope, however these other technologies must be discussed to appropriately plan the ACI design
ACI Planning and Execution
- Review ACI proposed topology and assess current state
- Determine APIC current code release
- Verify faults, review configs, log Endpoint/Routing tables, create rollback internal to APIC
Pre-equipment Change
- Upgrade fabric components
- Code upgrade path determination/execution
- APIC upgrade per code release
- Spine and Leaf upgrade in maintenance groups allowing VPC pairs to stay intact
- Modify connections to use correct interface speeds if applicable
After Current Fabric Upgrade to the new version
- Attach and/or replace fabric components if any with new equipment
- Attach new switches if any
- Fabric Discovery of new spines and leafs
Testing
- Verify customer DC environment connections to ACI fabric Verify APIC clustering
- Verify APIC clustering
- Verify connectivity with static binding
Knowledge Transfer
- Explain to the customer/partner how to configure and manage the solution in their environment
Next Steps: Call Housley for a detailed discussion on your ACI Software Upgrade.
Partner Pre-Planning
The Channel Partner should ensure that all necessary equipment is racked, stacked, cabled, and powered-up prior to the kick-off. The customer should upgrade the network devices to the required software version. The customer should have the necessary Cisco HyperFlex, Cisco Intersight, and VMWare Horizon software licenses.
Service Deliverables
Project Kickoff
- Conduct project overview
- Gather customer requirements
- Present HX architecture and components
- Discuss system requirements, Pre-Install checklist, and pre-requisites
Pre-requisite Validation
- Review and validate Pre-Install Checklist
- Confirm hardware and system pre-requisites
- Networking requirements discussion and planning
HX Deployment
- Upgrade software
- Install and deploy Cisco HX Data Platform Installer
- Configure UCS Manager and HX Nodes
- Create HX Cluster
Intersight Configuration
- Cisco Intersight Overview
- Configuration and Discovery of HX Devices
VDI (VMWare) Deployment
- Deploy VMWare View Agent
- Install Horizon View Connection Server (up to 500 Virtual Desktops)
- Create User Profile
- Provision VDI using Horizon View
Validation
- Datastore Provisioning
- VM Snapshot and Cloning
- Provisioning virtual server
- Validate HX Connect reachability