Reference Configurations

This section provides reference configurations that will assist you in designing and connecting your N1 System Manager equipment. The following topics are discussed:

• Separate Management, Provisioning, and Data Networks

• Combined Management and Provisioning Network, and a Separate Data Network

• Combined Provisioning and Data Network, and a Separate Management Network

• Combined Provisioning, Data, and Management Network

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Note –

In each of the following reference configurations, corporate access is shown as a connection to the management server. Alternatively, corporate access to the N1 System Manager can be provided through a switch instead of the management server.

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Other configurations are possible, such as using separate switches for each network. You can implement your network using any combination of VLANs and switches. Each network, whether management, provisioning or data, should be assigned to separate VLANs.

Separate Management, Provisioning, and Data Networks

Figure 2–1 Separate Management, Provisioning, and Data Networks

Notes:

• Configuring separate management, provisioning, and data networks is the best practice

• Separate networks provide the highest security and the lowest number of points of failure

• The corporate DHCP service can be used to assign IP addresses to provisioned servers

• You might need to install additional NICs in the management server and some provisionable servers to support this configuration

Combined Management and Provisioning Network, and a Separate Data Network

Figure 2–2 Combined Management and Provisioning Networks, and a Separate Data Network

Notes:

• An additional NIC does not need to be installed on the management server

• The combined management and provisioning network reduces system and network security

• The corporate DHCP service can be used to assign IP addresses to provisioned servers

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Caution –

The statically-assigned management IP addresses and the dynamically assigned IP addresses used during OS provisioning are part of the same network. The N1 System Manager does not manage IP addresses. You must ensure that the IP addresses used during provisioning do not conflict with the management network IP addresses.

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Combined Provisioning and Data Network, and a Separate Management Network

Figure 2–3 Combined Provisioning and Data Network, and a Separate Management Network

Notes:

• An additional NIC does not need to be installed on the management server

• The combined provisioning and data network reduces system and network security

• The data network must use the N1 System Manager DHCP service

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Caution –

The statically-assigned management IP addresses and the dynamically assigned IP addresses used during OS provisioning are part of the same network. The N1 System Manager does not manage IP addresses. You must ensure that the IP addresses used during provisioning do not conflict with the management network IP addresses.

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Combined Provisioning, Data, and Management Network

Figure 2–4 Combined Provisioning and Data Network, and a Separate Management Network

Notes:

• An additional NIC does not need to be installed on the management server

• The combined management, provisioning, and data networks greatly reduces system and network security

• The data network must use the N1 System Manager DHCP service

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Caution –

The statically-assigned management IP addresses and the dynamically assigned IP addresses used during and after OS provisioning are part of the same network. The N1 System Manager does not manage IP addresses. You must ensure that the IP addresses used during provisioning and after provisioning do not conflict with the management network IP addresses.

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