Suggestions on setting up networking with HP MicroServer & Esxi

[randman 6]

I just got an HP Gen 8 MicoServer. I loaded it with 16GB memory, a P222 storage controller, 2 SSDs (in drive bays 1 and 2), and 2 WD WD20EFRX 2TB drives.

I configured its dedicated iLO port with a DHCP-reserved IP address. I have not done anything with the port 1 and port 2 NICs. Im about to setup Esxi (latest version 6), and I have some questions regarding setting up the IPs. Some questions:

 

Note:  I configured my router to assign a specific DHCP IP address to my server's dedicated iLO port

 

Some quests:

1. Prior to instilling Esxi, do I need to make any changes to my server's physical Ports 1 and Ports 2 , or will Exsi be possible for handling the IP address.

2. I have a Cisco SG200-18 18-Port Gigabit Smart Switch. It has the ability to configure ports in a link aggregation mode. Ideally, I'd like to take advantage of my Cisco switches' ability to define link aggregation.

3. Any tips on setting up networking of the built-in HP NIC ports and how the virtual IPs are created (and if we want the guest os to have a well-known address, to we change the IPs within Esxi?

 

Thank.

Edited October 26, 2015 by randman

[itGeeks 187]

I just got an HP Gen 8 MicoServer. I loaded it with 16GB memory, a P222 storage controller, 2 SSDs (in drive bays 1 and 2), and 2 WD WD20EFRX 2TB drives.

I configured its dedicated iLO port with a DHCP-reserved IP address. I have not done anything with the port 1 and port 2 NICs. Im about to setup Esxi (latest version 6), and I have some questions regarding setting up the IPs. Some questions:

 

Note:  I configured my router to assign a specific DHCP IP address to my server's dedicated iLO port

 

Some quests:

1. Prior to instilling Esxi, do I need to make any changes to my server's physical Ports 1 and Ports 2 , or will Exsi be possible for handling the IP address.

2. I have a Cisco SG200-18 18-Port Gigabit Smart Switch. It has the ability to configure ports in a link aggregation mode. Ideally, I'd like to take advantage of my Cisco switches' ability to define link aggregation.

3. Any tips on setting up networking of the built-in HP NIC ports and how the virtual IPs are created (and if we want the guest os to have a well-known address, to we change the IPs within Esxi?

 

Thank.

Welcome to the forums! I am sorry I cant personally help with your question but I have taken the liberty on your behalf to send the king of ESXi a PM asking him to have a look at your post to see if he can answer your question In the mean time y you wait for a response from him please have a look at his site and see you you can find the answers your looking for, See the link below-

https://tinkertry.com/

[tinkererguy 22]

Hi guys! I haven't owned an HP Gen 8, so I can't speak from experience on this one.

 

I can share some pointers though, to the best of my (current) knowledge:

 

1. Prior to instilling Esxi, do I need to make any changes to my server's physical Ports 1 and Ports 2 , or will Exsi be possible for handling the IP address.

No, no changes needed. Once you install ESXi, you configure the IP address for managing it. The rest comes later, such as assigning a virtual switch to your VMs, so they can "talk" to your home network. These resources may help:

http://blog.pluralsight.com/virtual-networking-101-understanding-vmware-networking

http://www.experts-exchange.com/articles/15841/HOW-TO-Configure-basic-networking-on-a-VMware-vSphere-Hypervisor-5-1-ESXi-5-1-Host-Server.html

I also have step-by-step install and configure videos here:

https://tinkertry.com/superguide-vmware-vsphere

 

2. I have a Cisco SG200-18 18-Port Gigabit Smart Switch. It has the ability to configure ports in a link aggregation mode. Ideally, I'd like to take advantage of my Cisco switches' ability to define link aggregation.

I haven't bothered with aggregation (moving to 10GbE anyway), but this resource may help:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004048

to get started and to make it all seem less intimidating, see me configure and install on this simpler ESXi 5.5 video here:

https://youtu.be/iQfTuAdLfYw

 

3. Any tips on setting up networking of the built-in HP NIC ports and how the virtual IPs are created (and if we want the guest os to have a well-known address, to we change the IPs within Esxi?

Keeping it simple, you can just plug in one wire, and by default, your home router will feed the IP address that DHCP grants during the install of the ESXi 6.0 Hypervisor. This is your management IP, where you point your vSphere Client to, to then configure your VMs and such. Those VMs will also get an IP address from your DHCP server, by default.

[see resources for question #1 above, for more details)

 

Hope this helps get you pointed in the right direction.

[randman 6]

ItGeeks & TinkererGuy:

 

Thanks for your help! That's very useful info and I'll be installing Esxi soon!

[itGeeks 187]

ItGeeks & TinkererGuy:

 

Thanks for your help! That's very useful info and I'll be installing Esxi soon!

Your welcome, Glad I could help...