Deployment Guide

3. Log in to your server with the credentials provided in the previous step.
Configuring network interfaces for SOFS
Dell requires associating an IP address with each of the six network interface ports in each server.
• Two static or dynamic IP addresses for management
• Two static IP addresses for external communication to SMB clients
• Two static IP addresses for internal communication between server cluster nodes
Also, a gateway IP address, a subnet mask, and a DNS server address are required.
NOTE: iDRAC, which is a dedicated network interface port for remote access, is distinct from the six
ports you configure. iDRAC is configured separately outside the Windows OS.
Identifying the network ports
You must identify the network ports attached to management, external client communication, and for
internal cluster communication networks. Also, Dell recommends renaming the NICs to indicate to which
network the port is connected.
Identifying specific NICs
Table 7. Identifying specific NICs
Network description Naming
convention
for ports
Typical NIC
function
NIC type Static or
DHCP IP
address to
assign
Server management
Manage1
Manage2
Host
management
(remote desktop
or System
Center)
Two 1 GbE NIC ports
Ports on the network daughter
card (NDC) in the server.
Static or
DHCP
External
communication to
SMB clients
External1
External2
Communication
with SMB client
computers to
provide access
to SMB shares
10/40 GbE NIC ports
Typically the highest performance
NICS, such as the RDMA ports
available with Chelsio or Mellanox
network adapters.
Static
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