Chapter 1 Introduction to Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Installation
This document provides instructions for installing Oracle Private Cloud Appliance at your site. Instructions are also provided for extending an existing Oracle Private Cloud Appliance at your site. This chapter provides an overview of these system installation procedures, and describes the features and hardware components of Oracle Private Cloud Appliance.
1.1 System Installation Procedures
The following table lists the procedures you need to complete to install Oracle Private Cloud Appliance at your site.
|
Step |
Description |
Links |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Review the product notes for any late-breaking information about Oracle Private Cloud Appliance. |
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Product Notes at: https://docs.oracle.com/en/engineered-systems/private-cloud-appliance/ |
|
2 |
Review important safety information. |
Before performing the installation, refer to the following documents:
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|
3 |
Review information about Oracle Private Cloud Appliance features and hardware components. |
Chapter 1, Introduction to Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Installation |
|
4 |
Complete the site preparation procedures. |
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|
5 |
Complete the site network preparation procedures. |
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|
6 |
Install Oracle Private Cloud Appliance at your site. |
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|
7 |
Power on Oracle Private Cloud Appliance and perform initial system configuration. |
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|
8 |
(Optional) Extend Oracle Private Cloud Appliance compute capacity with additional compute nodes. |
Chapter 6, Extending Oracle Private Cloud Appliance - Additional Compute Nodes |
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9 |
(Optional) Extend Oracle Private Cloud Appliance server memory. |
Chapter 7, Extending Oracle Private Cloud Appliance - Server Memory Kits |
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10 |
(Optional) Extend Oracle Private Cloud Appliance storage capacity. |
Chapter 8, Extending Oracle Private Cloud Appliance - Additional Storage |
1.2 About Oracle Private Cloud Appliance
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance is an integrated hardware and software system engineered to enable rapid deployment of a converged compute, network, and storage infrastructure for hosting most applications and workloads, whether running on Linux, Oracle Solaris, or Microsoft Windows.
In combination with customer-provided storage from Oracle or other storage vendors, Oracle Private Cloud Appliance incorporates Oracle server and network hardware with Oracle operating system, virtualization, and orchestration software to automate the discovery, configuration, deployment, and management of converged infrastructure for hosting virtual machines (VMs).
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance incorporates high-speed Ethernet or InfiniBand connectivity to provide a converged, wire-once, software-defined networking and storage fabric for all servers and storage in the appliance. Leveraging software-defined networking (SDN) technology, users can rapidly and dynamically create or modify private or public networks without having to manually re-cable connections, saving time and reducing the risk of human error. The consolidation of network connections results in up to 70 percent fewer cables and cards.
In addition to rapid infrastructure provisioning, Oracle Private Cloud Appliance also accelerates complete application stack deployment through support for Oracle VM Templates and Assemblies. Oracle VM Templates and Assemblies are preconfigured applications, middleware, and databases packaged as ready-to-run virtual machines (VMs) that can be dynamically configured at deployment time. The result is an unparalleled ability to go from “bare-metal” infrastructure power on to logging in to a newly deployed, running application within days or even hours, instead of weeks or months.
1.3 Features of Oracle Private Cloud Appliance
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance offers the following features:
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Converged infrastructure orchestration software: Automated discovery, configuration, and management of included server, network, and storage resources for rapid infrastructure provisioning.
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Unified, software-defined network fabric: Incorporated high-speed Ethernet or InfiniBand hardware provides a single, consolidated fabric allowing new networks to be dynamically added and existing networks to be modified without the need to manually modify cabling.
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Rapid application stack deployment, not just infrastructure: Support for ready-to-run Oracle VM Templates and Assemblies enables users to rapidly deploy not only the infrastructure, but also the applications that are hosted on the infrastructure.
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Support for a wide variety of guest operating systems: Support for Linux, Oracle Solaris, and Windows operating systems and applications.
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Support for customer-provided storage: Oracle Private Cloud Appliance can be configured with external storage from Oracle or existing storage from other storage vendors.
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Unified management: Browser-based orchestration software provides at-a-glance status for all hardware components. A plugin is available to integrate appliance management and monitoring into Oracle Enterprise Manager. Role-based access control permits secure administration of the appliance across multiple administrators.
1.4 Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Rack Components
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance systems consist of virtualization compute nodes, storage appliances, as well as required networking components. Table 1.1 lists the quantity and description of each component in an Oracle Private Cloud Appliance system, with factory-installed Controller Software Release 2.4.x. Previous generations of hardware components continue to be supported by the latest Controller Software, as described below.
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance base racks are factory installed with the latest supported generation of server nodes. When you order expansion compute nodes, you receive the latest available generation. The Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Controller Software version must match the hardware versions installed in your environment.
The system ships with default passwords assigned to the Oracle ILOM root accounts on Oracle components. This enables the installation process to be performed with a predictable initial access account. Immediately after installation, change the default passwords. Use long, complex passwords to ensure optimal security.
|
Quantity |
Description |
|---|---|
|
2 |
Oracle Server X8-2, forming the HA management node cluster |
|
2 to 25 |
Oracle Server X8-2, used as virtualization compute nodes |
|
1 |
Oracle Rack Cabinet 1242 base |
|
2 |
Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 Switches, providing connectivity for the data network |
|
2 |
Cisco Nexus 9336C-FX2 Switches, providing connectivity for the spine network |
|
1 |
Cisco Nexus 9348GC-FXP Switch, providing connectivity for the internal administration network |
|
1 |
Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance ZS7-2, providing internal system storage |
Support for Previous Generations of Hardware Components
The latest version of the Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Controller Software continues to support all earlier configurations of the hardware platform. These may include the following components:
|
Component Type |
Component Name and Minimum Software Version |
|---|---|
|
Management Nodes |
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Compute Nodes |
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Storage Appliance |
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InfiniBand Network Hardware |
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Internal Management Switch |
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1.5 Server Components
Table 1.3 lists the components of the server models that may be installed in an Oracle Private Cloud Appliance rack and which are supported by the current software release.
Oracle Private Cloud Appliance systems with factory-installed Controller Software release 2.4.x are delivered with Oracle Server X8-2, in the role of either management node or compute node. Previous generations of hardware components continue to be supported by the latest Controller Software. For details of previous server models, refer to the Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Installation Guide for Release 2.3.
|
Quantity |
Oracle Server X8-2 Management Node |
Oracle Server X8-2 Compute Node |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Oracle Server X8-2 base chassis |
Oracle Server X8-2 base chassis |
|
2 |
Intel Xeon 5218, 16 core, 2.3 GHz, 125W |
Intel Xeon 8260, 24 core, 2.4 GHz, 165W |
|
12-24 |
12x 32 GB DDR4 DIMMs (384 GB total) |
12 or 24 DDR4 DIMMs Available configurations:
|
|
2 |
1.2 TB, 2.5-inch, 10,000-RPM drives with LSI RAID controller |
1.2 TB, 2.5-inch, 10,000-RPM drives with LSI RAID controller |
|
1 |
Ethernet port for remote management |
Ethernet port for remote management |
|
1 |
Dual-port 100Gbit Ethernet Host Channel Adapter Network Interface Card type CX5 |
Dual-port 100Gbit Ethernet Host Channel Adapter Network Interface Card type CX5 |
|
2 |
Redundant power supplies and fans |
Redundant power supplies and fans |
|
1 + 2 |
Embedded Ethernet: 1x Gigabit + 2x 10/25 Gigabit ports |
Embedded Ethernet: 1x Gigabit + 2x 10/25 Gigabit ports |
1.6 Operational Procedures for Oracle Private Cloud Appliance
This section provides important operational instructions to help you minimize the risk of injury or damage.
1.6.1 Emergency Power-off Considerations
If there is an emergency, then power to Oracle Private Cloud Appliance should be halted immediately. The following emergencies might require powering off the system:
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Natural disasters such as an earthquake, flood, hurricane, tornado or cyclone
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Abnormal noise, smell or smoke coming from the system
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Threat to human safety
1.6.1.1 Emergency Power-off Procedure
To perform an emergency power-off procedure for Oracle Private Cloud Appliance, turn off power at the circuit breaker or pull the emergency power-off switch in the computer room.
1.6.1.2 Emergency Power-off Switch
Emergency power-off (EPO) switches are required in a computer room when computer equipment contains batteries capable of supplying more than 750 volt-amperes for more than five minutes. Systems that have these batteries include internal EPO hardware for connection to a site EPO switch or relay. Use of the EPO switch will remove power from the Oracle Private Cloud Appliance.
1.6.2 Cautions and Warnings
The following cautions and warnings apply to Oracle Private Cloud Appliance:
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Do not touch the parts of this product that use high-voltage power. Touching them might result in serious personal injury.
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Do not power off Oracle Private Cloud Appliance unless there is an emergency. In that case, follow the Section 1.6.1.1, “Emergency Power-off Procedure”.
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Keep the front and rear cabinet doors closed. Failure to do so might cause system failure or result in damage to hardware components.
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Keep the top, front, and back of cabinets clear to allow proper airflow and prevent overheating of components.
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Use only the supplied hardware.