Deployment Guide
Table Of Contents
- Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies Deployment Guide
- Contents
- Introduction
- Solution Overview
- Solution Deployment
- Introduction to solution deployment
- Deployment prerequisites
- Predeployment configuration
- Operating system deployment
- Installing roles and features
- Verifying firmware and software compliance with the support matrix
- Updating out-of-box drivers
- Changing the hostname
- Configuring host networking
- Joining cluster nodes to an Active Directory domain
- Deploying and configuring a host cluster
- Best practices and recommendations
- Recommended next steps
- Deployment services
- References
- Appendix A: Persistent Memory for Windows Server HCI
Introduction
Topics:
• Document overview
•
Audience and scope
• Known issues
Document overview
This deployment guide provides an overview of Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell Technologies, guidance on how to integrate
solution components, and instructions for preparing and deploying the solution infrastructure. Microsoft HCI Solutions from Dell
Technologies includes:
● Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI (based on Azure Stack HCI OS v20H2)
● Dell EMC HCI Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server (based on Windows Server 2016/2019 OS)
For end-to-end deployment steps, use the information in this guide with the information in Network Configuration and Host
Configuration Options.
This guide applies only to infrastructure that is built by using the validated and certified AX nodes from Dell Technologies and
Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, and the Azure Stack HCI operating system.
Audience and scope
The audience for this document includes systems engineers, field consultants, partner engineering team members, and
customers with knowledge about deploying hyperconverged infrastructures (HCIs) with Windows Server 2016, Windows Server
2019, the Azure Stack HCI operating system, Hyper-V, and Storage Spaces Direct. Customers who do not have Volume License
agreements with Microsoft can order AX nodes from Dell Technologies with a factory-installed operating system and OEM
license or as a bare-metal installation.
An Azure Stack HCI cluster can be deployed in the following ways:
● Dell Technologies Services led—Certified deployment engineers ensure accuracy, speed, and reduced risk and downtime.
● Customer led—Customers who have the qualified level of technical expertise follow the instructions in this guide.
● Using Windows Admin Center—Deployment services engineers or customers perform the Azure Stack HCI solution
deployment using Windows Admin Center.
NOTE:
Instructions in this deployment guide are applicable only to:
● The generally available (GA) operating system build of Windows Server 2016 with the latest applicable updates
● The Windows Server 2019 GA build with the latest operating system updates
● The GA operating system build of the Azure Stack HCI operating system with the latest cumulative update
These instructions are not validated with Windows Server version 1709. AX nodes from Dell Technologies do not support
the Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel release. Dell Technologies recommends that you update the host operating
system with the latest cumulative updates from Microsoft before starting the Azure Stack HCI cluster creation and
configuration tasks.
Assumptions
This guide assumes that deployment personnel understand the following concepts and tasks:
● AX nodes from Dell Technologies
● Deploying and configuring BIOS and integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) settings
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