The current setup was a Cisco 1000v VSM (V irtual Supervisor Module) in L2 Control mode, but the same procedure can be applied to a Cisco 1000v in L3 Control mode. Change Cisco 1000v redundancy mode from standalone to HA (primary) on existing VSM. Confirm that role changed from standalone to primary. The following guide describes the neccessary steps to install and configure a pair of cisco nexus 1000v switches to be used in a vSphere cluster. These will connect to Cisco Nexus 5020 Upstream Switches. In this guide the hardware used consists of: Hardware: 3x HPProliant DL380 G6 with 2 4-port NICs. 2x Cisco 5200Nexus Switches.
Simplify and Scale Virtual Networking
Get highly secure, multitenant services by adding virtualization intelligence to your data center network with the Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch for VMware vSphere. This switch:
- Extends the network edge to the hypervisor and virtual machines
- Is built to scale for cloud networks
Get the Cisco Nexus 1000V Essential Edition at no cost.
Statement of Direction for Cisco Nexus 1000V Platform (PDF - 218 KB)
Cisco Nexus 1000v Ova
The Cisco Nexus 1000V will continue to be supported on the VMware hypervisor beyond VMware vSphere Release 6.0 as well as on other major hypervisors. Customers should upgrade their Cisco Nexus 1000V software to the latest version as they upgrade their VMware or other hypervisor environments.
Features and Capabilities
Important differentiators for the Cisco Nexus 1000V for VMware vSphere include:
- Extensive virtual network services built on Cisco advanced service insertion and routing technology
- Support for vCloud Director and vSphere hypervisor
- Feature and management consistency for easy integration with the physical infrastructure
- Exceptional policy and control features for comprehensive networking functionality
- Policy management and control by the networking team instead of the server virtualization team (separation of duties)
Use Virtual Networking Services
The Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch optimizes the use of Layer 4 - 7 virtual networking services in virtual machine and cloud environments through Cisco vPath architecture services.
Cisco vPath 2.0 supports service chaining so you can use multiple virtual network services as part of a single traffic flow. For example, you can simply specify the network policy, and vPath 2.0 can direct traffic:
- First, through the Cisco ASA1000V Cloud Firewall for tenant edge security
- Then, through the Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Switch for a zoning firewall
In addition, Cisco vPath works on VXLAN to support movement between servers in different Layer 2 domains. Together, these features promote highly secure policy, application, and service delivery in the cloud.
Expand these offerings by building highly secure hybrid clouds with Cisco InterCloud.
Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch for VMware vSphere Editions
Cisco Nexus 1000V Switch for VMware vSphere is available in two separate editions. The Essential Edition includes all the basic switching features. Advanced Edition adds advanced security capabilities and Cisco Virtual Security Gateway for Nexus 1000V Switch to the base functionality of Essential Edition. Buying Cisco TAC support is optional for Essential Edition and highly recommended.
Specifications at a Glance
| Features | Essential Edition | Advanced Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 2 switching: VLANs, private VLANs, VXLAN, loop prevention, multicast, virtual PortChannels, LACP, ACLs | Yes | Yes |
| Network management: SPAN, ERSPAN, NetFlow 9, vTracker, vCenter Server plug-in | Yes | Yes |
| Enhanced QoS features | Yes | Yes |
| Cisco vPath | Yes | Yes |
| DHCP Snooping | No | Yes |
| IP Source Guard | No | Yes |
| Dynamic ARP Inspection | No | Yes |
| Cisco TrustSec SGA Support | No | Yes |
| Cisco Virtual Security Gateway | Supported1 | Included |
| Other Virtual Services (Cisco ASA1000V, Cisco vWAAS, etc.) | Available separately | Available separately |
1 Shipping Virtual Security Gateway (VSG) versions are supported on Essential and Advanced editions. VSG is no longer available as a standalone product.
VXLAN Fundamentals
Watch a video on VXLAN technology in the Cisco Nexus 1000V virtual switch.
Data Sheets and LiteratureData Sheets
End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices
Q&A
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This instructable is based on a guide by Robert Burns
- Download ESXi ISO from VMware and save to a directory accessible from your Workstation. This tutorial is using VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0.update02-2068190.x86_64.iso
- Download vCenter Server Appliance OVA file and save to a directory accessible from your Workstation. This tutorial is using VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-5.5.0.10000-1624811_OVF10.ova
- Download the Nexus 1000v software from Cisco.com and extract to a folder on your computer (this tutorial is using Nexus1000v.4.2.1.SV2.2.3)
Launch VMware workstation
File > New Virtual Machine…
Select Custom (advanced)
Click Next
Set Hardware compatibility to Workstation 10.0
Click Next
Choose Install from: Installer disc image file (iso):
Browse to the directory where you saved the ESXi ISO. It should state “VMware ESXi 5 detected”.
Click Next.
Name the new Virtual Machine (e.g. ESX01)
Specify the Location where you wish to save the virtual machine files
Click Next
Specify 2 Processors with 2 Cores per processor (you can select just one core if you can not spare the resources).
Click Next
Set the memory as 6GB (6144 MB). This is required in case you want to test running both VSMs on the same ESX host. Specify less RAM if you do not have enough resources.
Click Next
Select “Use host-only networking” to create a LAN segment for all your VMs that is also accessible from your Workstation PC.
Click Next
Select SCSI Controller: LSI Logic (Recommended) I/O Controller Type
Click Next
Select SCSI (Recommended) disk type.
Click Next
Select “Create a new virtual disk”
Click Next
Leave default allocation of 40 GB disk capacity and select Split virtual disk into multiple files. You can specify more disk space if you intend installing many VMs on the ESX local disk store.
Click Next.
Specify the name for the Disk File e.g. ESX01.vmdk
Click Next.
Click Finish.
NOTE:In previous attempts, I selected “Customize Hardware…” and added an additional 3 Network Adapters. However, these additional NICs were not recognised and so will be added later. YMMV.
Power on the virtual machine (if it doesn’t start automatically).
Press Enter to continue
Press F11 to accept and continue
Press Enter to continue
Use the arrow keys to highlight the correct keyboard layout, then press Enter to continue
Enter your password on each line ensuring they match, then press Enter to continue
Press F11 to install
Wait for it to install. My installation took extra long at 28%.
Press Enter to reboot.
Install completed.
Right-click ESX01 > Power > Shutdown Guest
Repeat to create ESX02, ESX03 and ESX04.
File > Open…
Browse to VMware-vCenter-Server-Appliance-5.5.0.10000-1624811_OVF10.ova and click Open
Click Import
After Install, right-click the VM and choose Settings
Cisco Nexus 1000v Ova Download
Change the Network Adapter from Bridged to Host Only and click OK
Power on the VCSA and wait until install is completed and you see this screen (note: install can take quite a while, as can each boot up of this appliance).
Open a browser to https://192.168.63.137:5480
username: root
password: vmware
Click Login.
Review the EULA (lol), tick “Accept license agreement” and click Next.
Wait for the VCSA to be happy (huh?)…
Specify “Configure with default settings” and click Next.
Review the configuration and click Start.
Cisco Nexus 1000 V Oval
Be prepared for the “Configuring SSO” stage to take a very long time:
Wait until all four configuration items get green check marks, then click Close.
Have a poke around the VMware vCenter Server Appliance configuration GUI. Note, this is just the appliance admin GUI not the vsphere web client GUI which you will see next.
Use the link on the top right of the screen to Logout.user root.
3.1 Configure VMware Datacenter
Connect to the vSphere Web Gui by browsing to https://192.168.63.137/vsphere-client
Login as root (password = vmware) – wait a while for login to complete
From the VMware vSphere Web Client Home page, go to vCenter > Hosts and Clusters > localhost > Create Datacenter.
Enter a name for the Datacenter e.g. Lab DC
Wait for the client to validate the input.
Go to Localhost > Lab DC > Create a Cluster
Specify the name for the cluster e.g. 1000v-Cluster
Go to Localhost > Lab DC > 1000v-Cluster > Add a host
Enter the IP address of your first ESXi host e.g. 192.168.63.133
Enter the username and password for the host.
Note the Security Alert (this can be ignored in a lab environment) and click Yes to connect to the host.
Review the Host Summary and click next
As we are using trial licenses, select (No License Key) and click Next
Do not enable lockdown mode. Click Next.
Review the final summary and click Finish.
Repeat to add ESX02 to 1000v-Cluster
Repeat to create a new Cluster named “vSwitch-Cluster” in the “Lab DC” datacentre and add ESX03 and ESX04 to it. Your vSphere Datacenter and its clusters should look something like this…
From the directory you unzipped the Nexus 1000v files to, go to the VSMInstaller_App directory and launch Nexus1000V-install_CNX.jar
Select Cisco Nexus 1000V Complete Installation and choose Custom (you may have to wait a few seconds once you have selected Custom)
Read all of the Pre-Requisites as it contains very useful information:
Click Next.
Enter the IP address of the VCSA appliance, leave the port as 443 and enter the username and password details.
Username: root
Password: vmware
Click Next.
Enter the details as shown above. If you only want to use a single Host for the primary and secondary VSM, you can enter the same host details twice. Choose Layer 2 connectivity mode and specify the Domain ID to something memorable e.g. 100. Leave all the Port Groups assigned to “VM Network”. You may wish to save this configuration before clicking Next as this will save a bit of time if you have to ever repeat this step. Once you are happy, click Next.
Review the details and click Next.
Wait for the install to complete. This could take a while.
Once completed, click Finish.
Next, select Virtual Ethernet Module Installation.
Review the pre-requisites and click Next.
Enter the vCenter Server credentials as before and click Next.
Enter the VSM credentials and click next.
Select “Install VEM and add module to Nexus 1000v” and specify the management VLAN as 1.
Click Next.
Use the CTRL key to select both the hosts from the 1000v-Cluster and click Next.
Review the details and click Finish.
Review the final Summary page and click Close.
Log into https://192.168.63.137:9443/vsphere-client/#
Go vCenter > Hosts and Clusters
Note that there will be an alarm against each of the hosts on which the Nexus 1000v VEM is installed stating that connection has been lost. This is a historical alarm and can be cleared (click on Reset to Green).
SSH into your VSM
Verify all modules are correctly installed by issuing the ‘show module’ command
Verify the high availability status of the active and standby VSMs by issuing the ‘show redundancy status’ command:
Let’s look at the networking for the Standard vSwitch Cluster.
Log into the Web Client and go to vCenter > Hosts and Clusters > localhost > Lab DC > vSwitch-Cluster. Select one of the hosts and go to the Networking > Virtual switches