Installing Nutanix CE in Supermicro E300-9D – Initial Configuration

In our previous post, we installed the Nutanix CE in our Supermicro E300-9D server,
Now, is time to config initial aspects, to then continue running and setting up our Server.

This is how it looks right now:

Now, we are going to go to settings, top left menu, click and select Settings

Here, on the left, we can see all settings, lets navigate through them and configure some important aspects as shown on the screenshots:

I added the following details to my cluster:

We already know that the CVM is the Controller VM with takes care of all aspects of our Cluster, Storage, Compression, Dedup… etc.
From here, we can choose the memory size of our CVM, for now, 20GB to keep it «light» for the lab

Pulse
NTP
email alerting and digest

These were the «common» settings I normally touch / check the very beginning, now, lets jump into something super important, Inventory.
This means, looking for cluster updates, software, AHV, firmwares, drivers, etc.
Easy to use, Simple run an Inventory, if detects anything to be updated, follow the wizard….

We go to the menu top left, LCM, Perform Inventory,
follow the screenshots for more info:

Performing Inventory
Inventory done, lets check what is contains
We goto Updates menu, Software, and select the software we would like to update
Next
Warning before updating
wow, an error, lets check it out….
OK, is telling to us to perform an NCC Update, then check, and continue with the updates, so in this particular case, we select only NCC; and proceed with the update.
After the update, we come back to the LCM Menu, Pre-Upgrade check, NCC check.
Now that this is done, we run a new inventory, and continue the process as described before, selecting the things to be updated, and running the shown update plan.
Boom! everything has been updated successfully, without any stress or complicated procedures.
This is how our main console looks after the update.

As you saw, there was an «error» in the update,
Just simple as a pre requirement to continue with the rest.
The menu is super user-friendly, well explained, and just with a few click, you can have your cluster updated and up and running, with no stress, no complex commands or consoles, etc.

Ah, one more thing, if you want to see your cluster status from the SSH console, simply login to the CVM, and run this command:

cluster status

We are almost there to start creating our first vm

see you in the next one.

Installing Nutanix CE in Supermicro E300-9D

After some time trying and playing around with the Nutanix CE in Nested mode in my lab,
I finally put my hands into a little monster able to handle a Single Node Cluster, My Supermicro E300-9D!

Im going to show you the process of Installation, cluster (Single node) creation, in future posts, we will continue seeing new stuff, step by step.

Let’s get started:

First of all, as we already know, lets download the Nutanix CE from the community portal, to do so, you must be registered, and after installation, you will need your restoration to make it work properly.

after downloading the CE ISO, lets boot from the ISO and get started…

Server Specs
Boot from USB
Nutanix CE Boot
Booting, loading the necessary files
Now is time to add some data,
I havee 3 disks, Boot, CVM and Data, choose the ones you would like to use, and then,
configure the IP Details as shown,
You need 1 IP for the AHV Host, One for the CVM, gateway and subnet mask.
EULA….
Installation process
after few minutes, done!
Now, is time to remove the boot media, answer with a Y, and continue…

Now, after the first boot of the server,
we are going to ssh to the AHV host, with the IP we setup earlier
username: root
password: nutanix/4u

then, from the AHV host, we are going to ssh to the CVM to the IP we also setup earlier,
in this case
username: nutanix
password: nutanix/4u

Now, we are into the CVM via ssh, its time to create the Cluster,
in this case, Single node cluster
the command I used is the following:

cluster -s <CVM IP> —-redundancy_factor_1 —-dns_server 1.1.1.1 create
Cluster creation process started
Cluster created successfully!!

Now, the cluster has been created successfully, lets see the server console.

Now, lets connect to the web UI to continue working on our new cluster

to connect, we will use the CVM IP Address and the port 9440

Default username: admin
Default password: nutanix/4u
Now, is time to change the admin password
And login
Here is an important step, we need to provide our Nutanix Community credentials, as we created them before to download the ISO, if you don’t have any, its time to create an account, 😉

Done!

Here is our beautiful WebUI of our Nutanix CE Single Node Cluster!!

I hope you like it,

this setup is in a physical server,
Supermicro E300-9D, 128GB RAM, 3 SSD disks.

In the next entry, initial config and run.

cheers!

OOTBI New Release 1.6

I recently wrote an entry about updating our OOTBI cluster
https://lfconsulting.org/updating-our-ootbi-cluster

Now, Object First has launched a new release of OOTBI, 1.6.63.10886

These are the new features described in the release:

The update process, as shown before, is super straightforward and allows you to update and reboot your cluster in a few clicks without any stress or «fancy» steps, guides, or troubleshooting.

The feature I was looking forward to getting, and finally is here, is the user’s roles,
I’m super excited about these:

we will continue testing the new features, and describe them in the future.

cheers.

Updating our OOTBI Cluster

Hi, it’s been a journey, with the OOTBI topics here:

https://lfconsulting.org/object-first-ootbi
https://lfconsulting.org/object-first-ootbi-primer-arranque-y-configuracion
https://lfconsulting.org/object-first-ootbi-pasos-finales-para-estar-ready
https://lfconsulting.org/deploying-a-object-first-ootbi-vsa-lab
https://lfconsulting.org/expanding-our-object-first-ootbi-cluster-adding-nodes-and-vbr-space

Now, is time to update our cluster,
One of the most important reasons to implement OOTBI, is the ability to get updates, improvements and upgrades straight away, keeping yourself in the important task of protecting the Infrastructure and data,
Object First has you covered with the Tech and Updates.

Let’s follow up the process witha few screenshots and thoughts:

When it’s time for an update, our console will tell us, also, at any time, we can check it in the settings menu as well.

Let’s login to our web GUI, and check the events and alerts, as you can see, the system is telling us that an update is available:

We go to the menu under settings. Cluster Update and the system checks for the latest updates

The Update cluster button becomes purple, and you can see the available update, let’s hit the button and proceed

IMPORTANT!

Let’s Install!

And done!
Now our cluster is up to date!

I hope you like it

as you can see, the process is super simple and straight forward,
and this is the main pilars of this technology, easy to use and maintain.

see you in the next one!

cheers!

Expanding our Object First OOTBI Cluster – adding nodes and VBR space

Hi, in a previous entry, we saw how to deploy and get up to work an OOTBI Virtual Appliance,
https://lfconsulting.org/deploying-a-object-first-ootbi-vsa-lab

We will add an extra node to the «Single Node Cluster» to become a multi-node one.

The steps are straightforward, let’s see them via screenshots with comments:

First of all, we need to deploy the OOTBI VSA which will be added to the cluster,
follow the guide from the previous entry, ending after the deployment (don’t create the Cluster again).

Select the Option Join To Cluster
Configure your NIC
The VSA will check for updates
Updates found, let´s update it
updating…
After the update, you will be pushed to the initial menu, go over it again, and the data (NIC config) will remain, just go forward and continue
NTP / NTS
OK, now, add your OOTBI CLUSTER IP ADDRESS,
The one we used/created in the previous entry, and the objectfirst user password we created.
BOOM!
Node Added to the cluster
Now you see the first two options blurry, and the cluster endpoint IP Address (Bottom left) is the same as the previous cluster.
There we have it, 2 NODES, 2TB FREE
Nodes View

IMPORTANT

Now, that our Cluster setup is done, we need to update the information in our VBR to get the space and the cluster working fine.
In the picture below you can see that the S3 bucket from the cluster remains at 1TB.

If we do the rescan repository it will give us an error like so.

Please Right click into the Repo, and re-run the setup wizard,
next, next, finish.

The thing that will happen is that, when extending the cluster, the certificate has changed, so now the VBR needs to grab it again from our OOTBI Cluster to work properly.

Running and ending the setup (properties) wizard again to update the certificate

Boom!
As you can see, after the re-config, the VBR sees 2TB of Storage, so the cluster has been updated!

Following the guide, I will add one more node, so we will have a 3TB Cluster!
Follow the same steps from before, and now, we will see the 3 Nodes and the 3TB storage!

IMPORTANT
Once again, run the setup (properties) wizard for the Repo once again to get the certificate updated!

In the picture, you can see the wizard updating the cert and the bucket now shows 3TB Free instead of 2TB.

cheers!

Deploying Veeam Data Platform on the Lab – Recovery Orchestrator

I want to share with you all my initial setup of a small Lab for the Veeam Data Platform
which is installing VBR + VONE + Recovery Orchestrator.

In my case, I don’t have too many resources, so, for lab proposes, all three roles will be deployed in the same machine

The wizard takes care of installing the tools, just asking you the necessary things to get it done.

As you will see, installing the Orchestrator, includes the VBR and VONE.

If you haven’t downloaded the Veeam data platform, please do…
This is the virtual specs for the VM where VDP is installed on my lab:

Let’s follow up on the screenshots and the comments on the installation.

Here ends the installation.

Now, let’s take a look into the consoles, with very high level / initial configuration:

VBR – We already know how it looks, Showing you adding a Job from a Hyper-V VM.
Initial setup with Backup config, etc…

Veeam One

Recovery Orchestrator Web

Lets add our VBR server, so Veeam One can start collecting info from it,
also, lets add from our infra our Hypervisors, to get more details and monitoring.

In the next entry, we will add an ESXI host to the Recovery Orchestrator and start setting up a recovery plan (a super simple, lab test).

cheers.

Deploying a Object First OOTBI VSA (Lab)

Luckily I have the opportunity to have access to a VSA OOTBI for my Lab,
So I would like to share the deployment and initial steps to get it up and running in my Vsphere lab with y’all.

Let`s get started, by login into our Vsphere console, and starting the new VM process, deploying a VM from OVA:

After finishing the deployment, it is time to open the remote console to continue the wizard from it,

As you can read from my previous entry, in Spanish:
https://lfconsulting.org/object-first-ootbi-primer-arranque-y-configuracion

As you already may read from previous entries, in Spanish Im afraid, let’s create the cluster
yes, single node cluster:

Network config
node Hostame
Checking for updates…
OK, IMPORTANT! apply the updates, and no worries, after so, we will need to start the wizard again, but the info is kept, 😉
updating….
After updating, lets call the wizard again, I will continue in the next new screen, the previous info is saved, so just next next….
snmp, or NTS if you want it encrypted
Here is the deal, lets setup the cluster name and IP Address
Define a password for the «objectfirst» user
INFO: how to connect to the Web UI, model, and S/N
Telemetry, very important to notify support in case of any issue
DONE, now both, setup new cluster and Join are bold, so all set.
Lets access via web UI
Boom!

Now, I will show you how to quickly create an S3 Key and a Bucket and how they look when added to VBR!

Go to Security – S3 Keys – Create Key
Grab and keep secure the info, you ill need it to setup the Repo in VBR.
Now lets create the Bucket, S3 Bucket – Create a Bucket
Of course Enable Versioning, so the bucket will be Immutable
Here you can see the Bucket added into VBR, ready to be use!
another VBR view!

Cheers.

LAB- Deploying VBR13 – on Linux – OVA!

I want to share my initial screenshots of the Linux-based Veeam Backup & Replication Server.
Tech Preview: VBR on Linux (v13)

Private technology preview for Veeam 100, for non-production use only. 

Let’s get started:

As you may know, let’s deploy the OVA in our Vsphere Host:

As always, follow the wizard…

Select where the VM is going to be stored

Important, LAB, so, Thin Prov.

Detailed resume, no worries for the error, is ok! It’s just lab and non-production, remember?

Booting and great looking…

Easy step, to see the assigned IP address to the VM, quick look into the VM properties

Now, it is time to open your favorite browser, and call the URL from the VBR IP Address, for the web console

Boom!
Look at this console, beautifully colorful.
Looking forward to working from it, especially day-to-day operations you don’t need the «heavy console».

Now, with a Vsphere host Added and some VMs

Now, time to show the «Heavy» Client, I will paste the pics, due to the fact that the installation is so straightforward

Stay tuned for more news regarding this VBR13 Linux-based!

cheers.

Cisco Meraki –

Hi there:
I would like to share with you my experience and what Im testing right now in my Lab,
I’ve got lucky to be able to test some Cisco Meraki devices, and they are looking so good.

We’ve got a Switch, Sensor, Door/window Sensor, and a couple of cameras, here the names and link to the descriptions

Now some more pics of the devices, they are very good looking:

In the next entry, we will get started with the Meraki Console, and adding the devices to our plan and start playing with them.

cheers.

Actualización Veeam VBR V12 a 12.2

Hola
Os dejo unos sencillos pantallazos de como ha sido mi actualización en el Lab de Veeam VBR 12 a la ultima version, 12.2, a pantallazos.

Primero que todo, descargamos la ISO de la última version de la web.

Una vez la tenemos, comienza la actualización

Hasta aquí, todo bien, pero, como veis, me pide reiniciar, dado que ese componente C++ estaba sin actualizar, así que nada, reiniciar el VBR y volver a empezar con el upgrade, y ahora, continúa sin problemas…

temas de lab, no tenemos siempre todos los recursos que quisiéramos….
(el repo S3 OOTBI lo tengo apagado, ya que es un Appliance Físico, y hago pruebas y lo apago)
Listo! Actualizado a la ultima version, y funcionando!!

Saludos.