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Management-only network

In this topology, Lenovo XClarity Administrator has access to only the management network. It does not have access to the data network. However, XClarity Administrator must have access to the operating-system deployment network if you intend to deploy operating-system images from XClarity Administrator to managed servers.

When you install XClarity Administrator and define network settings, the eth0 network interface must be configured to:
  • The interface must be configured to support the device discovery and management (such as server configuration and firmware updates). It must be able to communicate with the CMMs and Flex switches in each managed chassis, the baseboard management controller in each managed server, and each RackSwitch switch.
  • If you intend to acquire firmware and OS device-driver updates using XClarity Administrator, at least one of the network interfaces must be connected to the Internet, preferably through a firewall. Otherwise, you must import updates into the repository.
  • If you intend to collect service data or use automatic problem notification (including Call Home and Lenovo Upload Facility), at least one of the network interfaces must be connected to the Internet, preferably through a firewall.
  • If you intend to deploy operating-system images and update OS device drivers, the interface must have IP network connectivity to the server network interface that is used to access the host operating system.
    Note
    If you implemented a separate network for OS deployment and OS device-driver updates, you can configure the second network interface to connect to that network instead of the data network. However, if the operating system on each server does not have access to the data network, configure an additional interface on the servers to provide connectivity from the host operating system to the data network for OS deployment and OS device-driver updates, if needed.

You can also configure a second network interface to connect to the same network from XClarity Administrator to support redundancy.

Figure 1 shows an example implementation for a management-only network in which operating-system deployment from XClarity Administrator is not supported.
Figure 1. Example implementation of a management-only network with no support for operating-system deployment
Graphic showing a high-level view of a management-only network with no connections to support the deployment of operating systems.
Figure 1 shows an example implementation for a management-only network in which operating-system deployment from XClarity Administrator is supported.
Figure 2. Example implementation of a management-only network with support for operating-system deployment
Graphic showing a high-level view of the single data and management network