Reference Guide
Table Of Contents
- Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies: Managing and Monitoring the Solution Infrastructure Life Cycle Operations Guide
- Contents
- Introduction
- Day 0 Operations
- Azure onboarding for Azure Stack HCI OS
- Licensing for Azure Stack HCI for Windows Server 2016 and 2019
- Creating virtual disks
- Managing and Monitoring Azure Stack HCI Cluster using Windows Admin Center
- Installing Windows Admin Center
- Adding the HCI cluster connection
- Accessing the HCI cluster
- Viewing server details
- Viewing drive details
- Managing and monitoring volumes
- Enabling data deduplication on Storage Spaces Direct
- Monitoring and managing VMs
- Managing virtual switches
- Dell EMC OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center
- Prerequisites for managing AX nodes
- Installing the Azure Stack HCI license (Ready Nodes only)
- Managing Azure Stack HCI clusters
- Full Stack Cluster-Aware Updating prerequisites for AX-7525 and AX-6515 nodes (offline update)
- Full Stack Cluster-Aware Updating for Azure Stack HCI clusters using the OpenManage Integration snap-in
- Updating a stand-alone node before adding it to the cluster
- Known issues
- Firmware updates using Dell EMC OpenManage Integration for Microsoft System Center for System Center Virtual Machine Manager
- Firmware and driver updates using the manual method
- Restarting a cluster node or taking a cluster node offline
- Expanding the Azure Stack HCI cluster
- Extending volumes
- Performing AX node recovery
- Operating system recovery
Figure 13. Virtual switches
Dell EMC OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center
Dell EMC OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center enables IT administrators to manage the hyperconverged
infrastructure (HCI) that is created by using Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies. OpenManage Integration with
Windows Admin Center simplifies the tasks of IT administrators by remotely managing the AX nodes and clusters throughout
their life cycle.
For more information about the features, benefits, and installation of OpenManage Integration with Windows Admin Center,
see the documentation at https://www.dell.com/support/home/product-support/product/openmanage-integration-microsoft-
windows-admin-center/docs.
NOTE:
For Storage Spaces Direct Ready Node, if you want to use the "Cluster Aware Update" premium feature to update
the cluster using the Dell extension you should contact a Dell sales representative to get an Azure Stack HCI license. See
the "Firmware and driver updates using the manual method" section.
Prerequisites for managing AX nodes
The prerequisites for managing AX nodes are:
● You have installed the following:
○ Windows Admin Center version 2103 and you are logged in as a gateway administrator.
○ Dell EMC OpenManage Integration with Microsoft Windows Admin Center extension version 2.0.0. For more information
about the installation procedure, see the Dell EMC OpenManage Integration Version 2.0.0 with Microsoft Windows Admin
Center Installation Guide.
○ Microsoft Cluster Creation Extension version 1.506.0 release or above.
○ Microsoft failover cluster extension version 1.243.0 release or above.
○ An OMIWAC Premium License on each AX node.
● You have added the HCI cluster connection in Microsoft Windows Admin Center.
● You can access the Windows Admin Center remotely using domain administrator credentials. Otherwise, use local
administrator credentials to access the Windows Admin Center locally. For more information, see What type of installation is
right for you?
Day 0 Operations
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