Configure Chassis and Server Discovery Policies for Cisco UCS

Introduction

The chassis and server discovery policies are a good way to discover all server hardwares and discover uplinks for a chassis in expected ways during the initial discovery process.
The chassis discovery policy determines how the system reacts when you add a new chassis. If you create a chassis discovery policy, the system:

• Automatically configures the chassis for the number of links between the chassis and the Fabric Interconnect specified in the policy.
  
• Specifies the power policy to be used by the chassis.
  

The server discovery policy determines how the system reacts when you add a new server. If you create a server discovery policy, you can control whether the system automatically conducts a deep discovery when a server is added to a chassis, or whether a user must first acknowledge the new server. By default, the system automatically conducts a full discovery.
With this policy, an inventory of the server is conducted. Then, server pool policy qualifications are run to determine whether the new server qualifies for one or more server pools.

Prerequisites

Requirements

Cisco recommends that you:

• Have knowledge of Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Server Blade hardware administration.
  
• Be familiar with the Cisco UCS Manager GUI.
  
• Understand the impact and implications of the different commands described in this document.
  
• Be familiar with the UCS components and topology. Refer to the diagram for a typical solution.
  

Components Used

The information in this document is based on Cisco UCS.
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a default configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

Refer to the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Background Information

Policies determine how Cisco UCS components will act in specific circumstances. You can create multiple instances of most policies. For example, you might want different boot policies so that some servers can PXE boot, some can SAN boot, and others can boot from local storage.
Policies allow separation of functions within the system. A subject matter expert can define policies that are used in a service profile, which is created by someone without that subject matter expertise. For example, a LAN administrator can create adapter policies and quality of service policies for the system. These policies can then be used in a service profile that is created by someone who has limited or no subject matter expertise with LAN administration.
You can create and use two types of policies in Cisco UCS Manager:

• Configuration policies which configure the servers and other components
  
• Operational policies which control certain management, monitoring, and access control functions
  

This document introduces two configuration policies, and the chassis and server discovery policies, to discover system hardware components of Cisco UCS in your environment:

• Cisco UCS 6100 Series Fabric Interconnect
  
• Cisco UCS 5100 Series Blade Server Chassis
  
• Cisco UCS 2100 Series Fabric Extender
  
• Cisco USC B-Series Blade Servers
  
• Cisco UCS Network Adaptors
  

Configure

Network Diagram

This is a typical topology used with Cisco UCS:

Configure a Chassis Discovery Policy

Complete this procedure in order to configure the chassis discovery policy:

1. Log in to Cisco UCS Manager.
   
2. In the navigation pane, select the Equipment tab.
   
3. On the Equipment node, select the Policies tab in the work pane.
   
4. From the Action list, select the number of links to be used by the chassis. The default is 1.
   
5. In the Redundancy field of the Power Policy area, select one of these options:
   
   • non-redundant
     
   • n+1
     
   • grid
     
6. Click Save Changes.
   
   

Create a Server Discovery Policy

Before you begin:
If you want to associate this policy with a server pool, create the server pool policy qualifications.
Complete this procedure in order to configure the server discovery policy:

1. Log in to Cisco UCS Manager.
   
2. In the navigation pane, select the Equipment tab.
   
3. From the Equipment tab, select Policies from the work pane.
   
4. Select the Server Discovery Policies tab.
   
5. Click + to add the server discovery policy, then give it a name in the Create Server Discovery Policy pop up window.
   
6. In the Description field, enter a description for the discovery policy.
   
7. In the Action field, select one of these options:
   
   • immediate—the system attempts to discover new servers automatically
     
   • user-acknowledged—the system waits until the user tells it to search for new servers
     
   • diag
     
8. (Optional) If you want to associate this policy with a server pool, from the Qualification drop-down list, select the desired server pool policy qualifications.
   
9. Click OK, then click Save Changes.
   
   

Verify

After the initial discovery, from the navigation pane, select the Equipment tab listing. This contains the discovery of all hardwares in your UCS environment:

Also, Chassis Views include visibility to all UCS Server Blades:

Here is the Hybrid Display of the Chassis #, which shows the connection between the Fabric Extenders (IO Modules) and the Fabric Interconnects:

This is the Physical Display of Fabric Interconnect A:

courtesy :UCS site