Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module Deployment Guide, Release 1.1.x

Preparing a VMware System for Cisco APIC-EM Deployment

To ensure that the Cisco APIC-EM works well within a virtual environment, configure the virtual machine with recommended resource pool values. A resource pool is a logical abstraction for the virtual machines that can be used to manage resources. Resource pools can be grouped into hierarchies and then used to partition CPU and memory resources.

You can configure and prepare the virtual machine using either the VMware vSphere Client or Web Client. We recommend that you use the VMware vSphere Web Client, since the Latency Sensitivity setting for resource pools must be configured as High. The Latency Sensitivity setting can only be configured using the VMware vSphere Web Client

Note

When deploying the Cisco APIC-EM in a virtual environment, you must first configure the VMware system before installing Cisco APIC-EM. To install Cisco APIC-EM, you need to download the ISO image containing the controller from Cisco.com and then map the ISO image to the VMware system and boot from it.

Configuring a Virtual Machine Using vSphere Web Client

Related References

System Requirements—Virtual Machine

Virtual Machine Configuration Recommendations

The following table lists the recommended configuration settings for a successful Cisco APIC-EM VMware vSphere installation, including resource pools. When installing Cisco APIC-EM on a supported virtual machine, we recommend that the following configuration settings are used.

Note

When preparing the virtual machine for the Cisco APIC-EM, the configuration settings terminology may differ depending upon the VMware application and GUI that your are using.

Table 1 Virtual Machine Configuration Recommendations (Including Resource Pools)

Resource Pool: CPU Resources

Reservation—14400 MHz is minimum configuration setting for this value

Limit—Unlimited

Shares—Normal

vCPU

6 (minimum)

Note

6 vCPUs is the minimum number required for your virtual machine configuration. For better performance, we recommend using 12 CPUs.

Resource Pool: Memory

Memory—32 GB or 64 GB is the minimum configuration setting for this value, depending upon your hardware.

Reserve all guest memory—Enable

SCSI controller value

VMware Paravirtual

New network value

New network value—Enter the network that the controller will connect to.

Status—Connect at power on

Adapter type—VMXNET3

Advanced

Choose High for the Latency sensitivity

Configuring a Virtual Machine Using vSphere Web Client

Related References

System Requirements—Virtual Machine

Configuring Resource Pools Using vSphere Web Client

To ensure that the Cisco APIC-EM works well within a virtual environment, you should configure resource pools with the recommended values. A resource pool is a logical abstraction for the virtual machines that can be used to manage resources. Resource pools can be grouped into hierarchies and then used to partition CPU and memory resources.

Note

You should first create a new resource pool with the recommended configuration values as described in this procedure, and then subsequently create a virtual machine (where the Cisco APIC-EM will be installed) on that resource pool.

Before You Begin

You have reviewed your VMware documentation concerning resource pools and their configuration.

You are familiar with the VMware vSphere Web Client and have a basic knowledge of how to create, manage and troubleshoot virtual machines using it.

You have your host and virtual datastores already set up and accessible in vSphere Web Client for this procedure.

Step 1	Open the VMware vSphere Web Client to perform the procedure. Figure 1. VMware vSphere Web Client
Step 2	Click vCenter in the Navigator. Figure 2. vCenter Home
Step 3	Click on Hosts. Figure 3. Hosts Choose a host where you will create the resource pool.
Step 4	Right-click on the selected host and click All vCenter Actions \| New Resource Pool. Figure 4. New Resource Pool
Step 5	Enter a name and specify values for the resource pool in the New Resource Pool dialog box. Figure 5. New Resource Pool We recommend entering the following resource pool values in this dialog box: CPU Resources Shares—Choose Normal from the drop-down menu Reservation—14400 MHz is minimum configuration setting for this value Reservation Type—Check box for Expandable Limit—Set to Maximum Limit Memory Resources Shares—Choose Normal from the drop-down menu Reservation—32 GB or 64 GB is the minimum configuration setting for this value, depending upon your hardware. Reservation Type—Check box for Expandable Limit—Set to Maximum Limit
Step 6	Click OK to save the configured resource pool values.

What to Do Next

Proceed to create a new virtual machine on this resource pool. For assistance with this procedure, see the following procedure, Configuring a VMware Server Using vSphere Web Client.

Related Concepts

Preparing a VMware System for Cisco APIC-EM Deployment

Virtual Machine Configuration Recommendations

Related References

System Requirements—Virtual Machine

Configuring a Virtual Machine Using vSphere Web Client

To ensure that the Cisco APIC-EM properly functions in a virtual environment, create the virtual machine(s) following the procedure described below with the recommended settings.

Note

You must create this virtual machine on the resource pool that you earlier configured, as described in the previous procedure.

Before You Begin

You have reviewed the minimum system requirements for a successful Cisco APIC-EM VMware vSphere installation, as previously described in this guide.

You are familiar with the VMware vSphere Web Client and have a basic knowledge of how to create, manage and troubleshoot virtual machines using the Web Client.

You have your host and virtual datastores already set up and accessible in vSphere Web Client for this procedure.

You have already created a resource pool on the host, following the steps described in the previous procedure, Configuring Resource Pools Using vSphere Web Client.

Step 1

Open the VMware vSphere Web Client to perform the procedure.

Figure 6. VMware vSphere Web Client

Step 2

Click vCenter in the Navigator.

Figure 7. vCenter

Step 3

Click Resource Pools in the Inventory Lists in vCenter.

Step 4

Choose the resource pool where you will install the virtual machine from the list.

Figure 8. Resource Pools

Step 5

Right click on the resource pool and select New Virtual Machine from the menu.

Figure 9. New Virtual Machine

Note

We strongly recommend that only a single virtual machine be created under the resource pool.

Step 6

Click Create a new virtual machine in the New Virtual Machine dialog box under 1a Select creation type.

Figure 10. Select Creation Type

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 7

In the New Virtual Machine dialog box under 2 Edit Settings, click 2a Select a name and folder.

Enter a name for the virtual machine and a location for the virtual machine.

Figure 11. Select Name and Folder

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 8

Click 2b Select a computer resource.

Select the resource pool that was created in the previous procedure.

Figure 12. Select Computer Resource

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 9

Click 2c Select storage.

Select a datastore for your virtual machine.

Figure 13. Select Storage

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 10

Click 2d Select compatibility.

Select ESX 5.1 and later from the drop down menu.

Figure 14. Select Compatibility

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 11

Click 2e Select a guest OS.

Select the following values from the drop down menus:

Guest OS Family: Linux
Guest OS Version: Ubuntu Linux (64-bit)

Figure 15. Select Guest OS

Click Next to proceed to the next step.

Step 12

Click 2f Customize hardware.

Figure 16. Customize Hardware

Step 13

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following CPU values are selected.

CPU

Enter a value of 6 cores.

Note

6 cores is the minimum number to enter for your virtual machine configuration. For better performance, we recommend entering and using 12 cores.

Reservation

Enter a minimum value of at least 14400 MHz.

Limit

Select Unlimited from the drop down menu

Shares

Select Normal from the drop down menu.

Note

The above dedicated CPU resources for the host are required for the Cisco APIC-EM.

Step 14

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following Memory values are selected.

Memory	Enter a minimum value of 32 GB or 64 GB, depending on your hardware.
Reserve all guest memory (all locked)	Check this box.

Note

The above dedicated memory resources for the host are required for the Cisco APIC-EM.

Step 15

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following New Hard disk value is entered.

New Hard disk

Increase to at least 500 GB minimum.

Step 16

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following New SCSI controller value is entered.

New SCSI controller

Select VMware Paravirtual from the drop down menu.

Step 17

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following New Network values are entered.

New network value	Enter the network that the controller will connect to for this value.
Status	Check the box for Connect at Power On.
Adapter type	Select VMXNET3 from the drop down menu.

Step 18

In the Virtual Hardware tab, ensure that the following New CD/DVD Drive value is entered.

New CD/DVD Drive

Select Datastore ISO file from the drop down and the configure the location of the ISO file in the File window.

Step 19

Click the VM Options tab to open it and ensure that the following values are entered.

Advanced

Choose High for Latency sensitivity from the drop down menu.

Click Ok to save your configuration and to proceed to the next step.

Step 20

Click 3 Ready to complete.

Click Finish to finish the virtual machine configuration.

Step 21

In the virtual machine, map the Cisco APIC-EM ISO image onto the local drive (CD/DVD).

Step 22

Boot up the virtual machine and choose the CD-ROM option from the Boot Menu.

Step 23

Choose Install Grapevine Appliance from the Ubuntu window that appears in the virtual machine.

What to Do Next

Proceed to deploy the controller by following the configuration wizard prompts.

For information about the deployment process and configuration wizard options, see Chapter 4 in the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module Deployment Guide, and the following sections: