Server Stateless Computing
The stateless computing function separates server hardware from hardware attributes to automatically deploy and replace servers and migrate services. The V300R010C00SPC500 version does not support this function. The V300R010C00SPC500 version having a patch version later than V300R010C00SPC500 installed also does not support this function.Versions upgraded from eSight V300R010C00 CP5022(Update tool 1.0) do not support this function.The V300R010C00CP5022 patch does not support this function.
Definition
The stateless computing function separates server hardware from hardware attributes to automatically deploy and replace servers and migrate services.
Stateless computing does not require server reconfiguration, making computing stateless and enabling plug-and-play.
Benefits
When faults occur on servers, eSight automatically migrates server services for service recovery based on templates and administrator configurations. This improves O&M efficiency and reduces O&M costs.
Application Scenario
The application scenarios of server stateless computing are as follows:
- Offline configuration
When a device is to be added, configure a profile and associate it with the target slot, and install the device into the slot. Then the stateless computing function automatically delivers the pre-configuration to the device. The configuration takes effect immediately after the device is powered on, eliminating the need to configure the device.
- Configuration migration
When a device in use fails, O&M personnel can migrate the profile on the device to a standby device. Then the standby device inherits all features of the failed device.
- Device replacement
When a device in use fails, O&M personnel can migrate the profile on the device to a newly installed device.
Function
Stateless computing enables fast server hardware configuration replacement and automatic service migration.
Stateless computing implements the following functions:
- Domain management
Administrators can quickly associate stateless computing servers with profiles or group profiles.
- Configuration item management
Administrators can configure pools, adapters, BIOS policies, and VLAN groups to implement unified hardware configuration for stateless computing servers.
- Profile management
Administrators can configure different combinations of pools, adapters, and BIOS policies in profiles or group profiles, and use the profiles or group profiles to implement fast configuration and deployment for new servers.
- Automatic migration management
Automatic migration separates server hardware from its configuration, automatically migrates the configuration to a new server, and activates the new server to run services, ensuring service continuity.
Principle
Fully out-of-band deployment is to perform stateless computing on devices using the small operating system automatically mounted by eSight.
In fully out-of-band networking mode, eSight automatically mounts a small operating system to the virtual drive of a device. When the device boots from the operating system, eSight sends iBMC instructions to the device for device configuration.
- The IP address must be valid for the device to connect to eSight.
- The user must have permission on the IPMI protocol for a device to connect to eSight.
- The version of the iBMC must be 2.56 or later.
No. |
Description |
|---|---|
1 |
An administrator associates a device with a profile on eSight. |
2 |
The profile task triggers the server to send a power-on request to eSight. |
3 |
The administrator triggers the profile activation task. eSight automatically mounts a small operating system to the server virtual drive and delivers a power-on permit command. |
4 |
eSight sends the SFTP information and profile file path to the iBMC. Then the iBMC forwards them to the small operating system. |
5 |
The small operating system downloads the profile file from eSight. |
6 |
The small operating system configures information based on the profile file and sends the configuration result to eSight. |
7 |
The administrator views the profile activation result on eSight. |
Application Restrictions
Restrictions When Southbound and Northbound Services Are Isolated
The network for isolating the southbound and northbound services is not applicable to the eSight multi-subnet scenario.
Southbound and northbound service isolation means that the southbound and northbound IP addresses of eSight are isolated. The northbound IP address is used to log in to the eSight UI, and the southbound IP address is used to communicate with servers.
- Scenario where the southbound and northbound services are not isolated
Multiple NICs on the eSight server can communicate with the servers.
The out-of-band and fully out-of-band networking modes are supported.
- Scenario where the southbound and northbound services are isolated
Only one NIC on the eSight server can communicate with the servers.
- The management plane IP address and the service plane IP address of the server are on the same plane.
The out-of-band and fully out-of-band networking modes are supported.
- The management plane IP address and the service plane IP address of the server are on different planes.
Only the out-of-band and fully out-of-band networking modes are supported.
- The management plane IP address and the service plane IP address of the server are on the same plane.
Restrictions on Stateless Computing
Application restrictions on stateless computing are as follows:
- This function applies only to Huawei rack, blade, and high-density servers.
- After configuring stateless computing for a server, you must manually back up the configuration immediately. Otherwise, if the backup data before the configuration is used for recovery, information between eSight and the server is inconsistent, the profile is repeatedly allocated, or configuration conflicts occur on the device. As a result, services are affected.
- Server restart will occur during domain activation, profile association, group profile association, splitting or deletion of devices associated with profiles, deletion of domains containing associated profiles, automatic configuration migration, manual configuration migration, and profile exporting from devices. As a result, services are interrupted.
- For details about servers and cards supported by stateless computing, see the eSight Supported Features.
- When the stateless computing function is used, it is recommended that the database be automatically and periodically backed up or manually backed up to prevent data loss.
- For CX920 switch modules, the downlink Fabric plane supports MZ710 NICs and the Base plane supports LOM NICs.