Dell Lifecycle Controller 2 Setup Guide

Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle
Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

This Dell Technical White Paper provides detailed information about configuring VLAN settings on a network port using Lifecycle
Controller on the Dell 12th generation servers and later versions.

Dell Engineering
October 2013

Sanjeev Nayaka

Raghavendra Venkataramudu

Revisions

1 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

Date Description

October 2013 Initial release

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2 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

Contents

Revisions .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

1 Network Setup for LC GUI with VLAN Settings ....................................................................................................................... 5

1.1 Configuring VLAN Settings in LC GUI—Process Flow Chart .................................................................................... 6

1.2 Configuring VLAN Settings in LC GUI ............................................................................................................................. 7

1.2.1 Setting DHCP Server as the IP Address Source ........................................................................................................... 8

1.2.2 Setting Static IP as the IP Address Source .................................................................................................................... 12

2 Error Scenarios and Resolution .................................................................................................................................................14

3 Warning Scenarios and Resolution ........................................................................................................................................... 15

4 Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

5 Best Practices ............................................................................................................................................................................... 18

5.1 Technical White Paper .................................................................................................................................................... 18

A Supported Network Interface Cards For VLAN Settings Using LC GUI ...........................................................................19

B Unsupported Network Interface Cards For VLAN Settings Using LC GUI ...................................................................... 22

C Configuration Details .................................................................................................................................................................. 24

D Additional Resources .................................................................................................................................................................. 25

3 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

Introduction

This document provides information about setting up and configuring VLAN settings on a Network Port
using Lifecycle Controller on the 12th generation servers of Dell to the users.

The VLAN Tagging implementation is based on IEEE 802.1Q. Lifecycle Controller supports the static VLANs
which are port-based. It supports the VLAN IDs 1–4094 and the Priority 0–7. The scope of VLAN Settings
explained in this white paper is limited to the Lifecycle Controller.

The VLAN settings can be configured to network port to perform various network operations that are
supported by Lifecycle Controller such as firmware updates using FTP, Export Lifecycle Log or Hardware
Inventory, perform backup and restore to the network share such as NFS and CIFS or configure a DHCP IP
address.

For more information about the Lifecycle Controller and supported features, refer to Lifecycle Controller2

1.3 User’s Guide available at dell.com/support/manuals.

Note: For the list of the supported and unsupported network cards, refer to Appendix A and Appendix B
later in this white paper.

Note: The VLAN settings feature is supported only on the Dell 12th generation servers and later versions.

4 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

1 Network Setup for LC GUI with VLAN Settings

Figure 1 VLAN setup to use network features from LC GUI

As shown in the flow diagram here, you can select a Server Management domain for the Server
Management activities on the Dell PowerEdge servers. This can be achieved by using a VLAN, where the
management ports can be configured to operate with a particular VLAN ID. This provides an additional
security to the system management activities.

The Server Management software supported by the Dell PowerEdge servers such as iDRAC and Lifecycle
Controller can be accessed through the network, or a network is needed to perform various Server
Management activities. With a dedicated VLAN setup, you can configure all the Managed Server Network
ports to operate with a particular VLAN ID.

In the context of Lifecycle Controller, there are several network-dependent features that require DHCP
/NFS/CIFS/FTP servers for the network operations. All these servers can be configured to operate with a
specific VLAN ID dedicated for the Server Management. In Lifecycle Controller, system network port is
used for the network operations, which include Onboard LOMs and add-on cards.

A list of network features supported by LC GUI and the navigation path to each page are listed here:

1. To export the lifecycle log to a Network Share such as a CIFS or NFS, in the left pane click LifeCycle

Log, and then click Export LifeCycle Log,

2. To update the feature, and allow you to provide the FTP site, or the Network Share such as CIFS or

NFS at the source location, in the left pane click Firmware Update, and then click Launch Firmware

Update,

Note: To perform firmware updates of different components, store the firmware DUPs at appropriate

locations.

3. To allow you to export the Hardware Inventory files or Factory-Shipped Inventory file to a CIFS or NFS

share, in the left pane click Hardware Configuration, click Hardware Inventory, and then click Export
Hardware Inventory or Factory Shipped Inventory.

4. To allow the you to import server profile from either CIFS or NFS share, in the left pane click Platform

Restore, and then click Import Server Profile.

5 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

For more information about the earlier mentioned features, and additional features supported by the
Lifecycle Controller, refer to the
dell.com/support/manuals.

Lifecycle Controller1.3 User’s Guide

available at

1.1 Configuring VLAN Settings in LC GUI—Process Flow Chart

Figure 2 Process Flow Chart showing the tasks to configure VLAN Setting with IP Source as either DHCP

or Static

6 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

1.2 Configuring VLAN Settings in LC GUI

1. To start Lifecycle Controller, press <F10> during POST.

Figure 3 Lifecycle Controller Home page

7 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers

2. In the left pane, click Settings, and then click Network Settings.

Figure 4 LC GUI Settings Page

1.2.1 Setting DHCP Server as the IP Address Source

1. From the NIC Card drop-down menu, select a NIC card.

2. From the IP Address drop-down menu, select DHCP.

3. To type a priority level and VLAN ID within the specified value, under Lifecycle Controller VLAN

Settings, select Enable.

Note: Make sure network cable is connected to a NIC card which is selected for VLAN settings.

8 Configuring VLAN Settings in Lifecycle Controller for Dell PowerEdge Servers