Category Archives: Labs

Hyper-Converged with Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Humair

There’s a lot of interesting things going on in the industry with servers, storage, and networking: SDN (software defined networking), SDS (software defined storage), NFV (network function virtualization), SD-WAN (software defined WAN), hyper-convergence, and more and more focus on private … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell Force10, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL, Labs, Network Architecture, Networking, Servers, Software Defined Storage (SDS), Technology, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware, VMware, VMware VSAN | Tagged Dell, Dell EVO:RAIL RA, Dell EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell N4064, Dell Networking, Dell Networking Dell-EVO:RAIL RA, Dell Networking Dell-EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Networking EVO:RAIL RA, Dell Networking EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Networking N-series, Dell Networking N4032, Dell Networking N4064, Dell Networking S4048-ON, Dell Networking S4810, Dell Networking S4820T, Dell Networking S5000, Dell Networking S6000, Dell Networking S6000-ON, Dell Networking Z9500, Dell S4048-ON, Dell S4810, Dell S4820T, Dell S5000, Dell S6000, Dell S6000-ON, Dell VMware EVO-RAIL, Dell VMware EVO:RAIL RA, Dell VMware EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Z9500, Dell-VMware EVO RAIL solution, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL solution, EVO, EVO RAIL Appliance, EVO RAIL configuration, EVO-RAIL, EVO:RAIL, EVO:RAIL Appliance, EVO:RAIL cluster, EVO:RAIL configuration, EVO:RAIL management daemon, EVO:RAIL MARVIN, EVO:RAIL MARVIN daemon, EVO:RAIL Marvin Management, EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, hyper-converged, hyper-converged infrastructure appliance, hyperconverged, IPv4 multicast, IPv6 multicast, Loudmouth, MARVIN, N-series, N4000, N4000-series, N4032, N4064, RAIL, S-series, S4048-ON, S4810, S4820T, S5000, S6000, S6000-ON, SDS, software defined storage, vCenter Server Appliance, VCSA, virtualization platform, vmware, VMware EVO:RAIL, VMware EVO:RAIL cluster, VMware EVO:RAIL configuration, VMware EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, VMware Loudmouth, VMware vCenter Server Appliance, VMware VCSA, VMware VSAN, VSAN, VSAN Cache, VSAN storage, Z-series, Z9500, Zeroconf | Leave a comment

Dell Networking with Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Humair

Checkout the Dell Networking with Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture available here on Dell.com. In this white paper, I discuss the details of the network connectivity at the ToR for the Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL appliance, reference architecture and respective network configuration required, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell Force10, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL, Labs, Network Architecture, Networking, Servers, Storage, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware, VMware, VMware VSAN | Tagged Dell, Dell EVO:RAIL RA, Dell EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell N4064, Dell Networking, Dell Networking Dell-EVO:RAIL RA, Dell Networking Dell-EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Networking EVO:RAIL RA, Dell Networking EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Networking N-series, Dell Networking N4032, Dell Networking N4064, Dell Networking S4048-ON, Dell Networking S4810, Dell Networking S4820T, Dell Networking S5000, Dell Networking S6000, Dell Networking S6000-ON, Dell Networking Z9500, Dell S4048-ON, Dell S4810, Dell S4820T, Dell S5000, Dell S6000, Dell S6000-ON, Dell VMware EVO-RAIL, Dell VMware EVO:RAIL RA, Dell VMware EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, Dell Z9500, Dell-VMware EVO RAIL solution, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL, Dell-VMware EVO:RAIL solution, EVO, EVO RAIL Appliance, EVO RAIL configuration, EVO-RAIL, EVO:RAIL, EVO:RAIL Appliance, EVO:RAIL cluster, EVO:RAIL configuration, EVO:RAIL management daemon, EVO:RAIL MARVIN, EVO:RAIL MARVIN daemon, EVO:RAIL Marvin Management, EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, hyper-converged, hyper-converged infrastructure appliance, hyperconverged, IPv4 multicast, IPv6 multicast, Loudmouth, MARVIN, N-series, N4000, N4000-series, N4032, N4064, RAIL, S-series, S4048-ON, S4810, S4820T, S5000, S6000, S6000-ON, SDS, software defined storage, vCenter Server Appliance, VCSA, virtualization platform, vmware, VMware EVO:RAIL, VMware EVO:RAIL cluster, VMware EVO:RAIL configuration, VMware EVO:RAIL Reference Architecture, VMware Loudmouth, VMware vCenter Server Appliance, VMware VCSA, VMware VSAN, VSAN, VSAN Cache, VSAN storage, Z-series, Z9500, Zeroconf | Leave a comment

VMware NSX Service Composer: Advanced Security & Micro-segmentation

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Humair

In a prior blog, Firewalling & Micro-segmentation with VMware NSX, I discussed some of the basics of firewalls and micro-segmentation with VMware NSX. In this blog, I’ll introduce how security groups via NSX Service Composer can be used with VMware … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell EqualLogic, Dell Force10, Dell PowerEdge Blade Servers, Dell PowerEdge Rack Servers, iSCSI, Labs, Network Architecture, Network Security, Networking, Security, Servers, Storage, Technology, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware, VMware | Tagged advanced security, advanced security policies, container, converged network, DCB, Dell, Dell DCB iSCSI, Dell end-to-end converged infrastructure, Dell iSCSI, Dell MXL, Dell S4810, Dell S6000, Dell VMware NSX, Dell VMware NSX Architecture, Dell VMware NSX design, Dell VMware NSX Guide, Dell VMware NSX RA, Dell-VMware NSX Reference Architecture, dynamic membership, end-to-end converged infrastructure, ESXi, firewall, firewall rules, iSCSI, iSCSI converged network, logical switch, micro-segmentation, Micro-segmentation with VMware NSX, microsegmentation, microsegmentation with VMware NSX, MXL, NSX, NSX advanced security policies, NSX Distributed Firewall, NSX firewall, NSX firewall rules, NSX logical switch, NSX partners, NSX security group container, NSX Security Group dynamic membership, NSX Security Groups, NSX security policy, NSX service chaining, NSX Service Composer, NSX Service Composer advanced security policies, NSX Service Composer Canvas View, NSX Service Composer container, NSX Service Composer Security Group, NSX Service Composer security policy, NSX-V, Palo Alto, Palo Alto Networks, Palo Alto Panorama, Palo Alto's Panorama, Panorama, S4810, S6000, security, security group container, Security Group dynamic membership, Security Groups, security policy, service chaining, Service Composer, Service Composer advanced security policies, Service Composer Canvas View, Service Composer container, Service Composer Security Group, Service Composer security policy, symantec, virtual machines, vms, VMware achitecture, VMware design, VMware ESXi, VMware logical switch, VMware NSX, VMware NSX advanced security policies, VMware NSX architecture, VMware NSX design, VMware NSX Distributed Firewall, VMware NSX firewall rules, VMware NSX logical switch, VMware NSX partners, VMware NSX security group container, VMware NSX Security Group dynamic membership, VMware NSX Security Groups, VMware NSX security policy, VMware NSX service chaining, VMware NSX Service Composer, VMware NSX Service Composer advanced security policies, VMware NSX Service Composer Canvas View, VMware NSX Service Composer container, VMware NSX Service Composer Security Group, VMware NSX Service Composer security policy, VMware NSX-V, VMware NSX-v design, VMware NSX-vSphere design, VMware Security Groups, VMware Service Composer, VMware virtual machine, VMware VM, VMware vSphere, vSphere | Leave a comment

Security, Art of Hacking, & the Worst 2014 Security Breaches

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Humair

Security is hot; no doubt about it. Consider the fact that between 2011 and 2013, venture investors put nearly $3 billion into cyber security companies, resulting in new funding for some 300 firms (Source: Thomson Reuters). Worldwide security software revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Hacks, Labs, Linux, Network Architecture, Network Security, Networking, Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Python, Red Hat Linux Enterprise, Security, Technology, Technology, Tips, Tips & Tricks, Windows | Tagged backdoor, backdoor access, backdoor script, brute-force, cyber security, data breach, DOS, employee negligence, Experion, firewall, firewall misconfiguration, Gartner, Global Cybersecurity Spending, Goodwill industries, Goodwill Industries data breach, Goodwill industries security breach, hacked Linux, hacked pc, hacked target, hacker, hacking, Home Depot, Home Depot data breach, Home Depot security breach, host scanning, JP Morgan, JP Morgan data breach, JP Morgan security breach, linux, malicious code, malware, malware detection software, malware software, malware software detection, Michael Bruemmer, Michaels Data Breach, Michaels security breach, micro-segmentation, microsegmentation, negligence, Neiman Marcus data breach, Neiman Marcus security breach, network security, novice hackers, packet injection, perl, Point-of-sale, Point-of-sale system, Point-of-sale systems, Point-of-sales system, Point-of-sales systems, Ponemon Institute, POS, POS systems, proxy server, Python, Python client, Python hacking, Python hacks, Python server, RedHat, RedHat Linux, RedHat Linux Enterprise, security, security breach, security exploitation, security infrastructure, security perimeter, security software, sensitive information, social engineering, Sony, Sony data breach, Sony security breach, sophisticated hackers, spyware, spyware detection software, spyware software detection, SQL injection, Target, Target data breach, Target security breach, traffic sniffing, trojan, unpatched Windows, unpatched Windows flaw, vi, Visa, windows, Windows flaw | Leave a comment

Cumulus Linux: Devops and Python Scripting

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Humair

As I mentioned in a prior blog, Cumulus Linux on Dell Networking Switches, one benefit of running Cumulus Linux on network switches is that you can run your typical Linux commands that you’re used to running for also configuring and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cumulus Linux, Dell, Dell Force10, Labs, Network Architecture, Networking, Programming Languages, Python, Technology | Tagged backgroud process, chmod, continuous ping, Cumulus, Cumulus background process, Cumulus Linux, Cumulus Linux background process, Cumulus Linux on Dell Switches, Cumulus Linux on network switches, Cumulus Linux OS, Cumulus Linux swp interface, Cumulus Linux with OSPF, Cumulus OS, Dell Networking, Dell Networking S4810, Dell Networking S4810-ON, Dell Networking S6000, Dell Networking S6000-ON, Dell Open Networking, Dell Open Networking Switch, Dell S4810, Dell S4810-ON, Dell S6000, Dell S6000-ON, devops, e-mail, Gmail smtp server, Google's Gmail smtp server, Google's smtp server, import smtplib, linux, Linux Process ID, MIME, Open Networking, Open Networking Switch, open source, OSPF, Python, Python 2.7, Python e-mail, python e-mail attachment, python email, python email attachment, python gmail, python gmail email, Python ICMP, Python MIME, Python on Cumulus, Python on Cumulus Linux, Python script, Python script for monitoring, Python smtp, Python smtplib, Python subprocess, Quagga, Running Python Script in Background, S4810, S4810-ON, S6000, S6000_ON, Scripting on Cumulus, Scripting on Cumulus Linux, smtp server, smtplib, Spine-Leaf, Spine-Leaf Architecture, Spine-Leaf Architecture with OSPF, Spine-Leaf with OSPF, subprocess, swp, swp interface | 5 Comments

Cumulus Linux on Dell Switches: Spine-Leaf Architecture & OSPF on Unnumbered Interfaces

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Humair

In a prior blog, Cumulus Linux on Dell Networking Switches, I demonstrated how to install Cumulus Linux on a Dell S6000 switch and do some basic configuration. In this blog, I’ll demonstrate how to configure routing on Dell switches running … Continue reading →

Dell VRF-lite & VMware NSX: Multitenancy Across Physical & Logical Networks

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Humair

Please checkout the white paper Dell Networking: Multitenancy Across Physical and Logical Environments with VRF-lite and VMware NSX. In the white paper I discuss use cases and how NVO and VRF-lite can be used together to deploy a consistent multitenant … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell Force10, Labs, Network Architecture, Networking, Protocols, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware, VMware | Tagged Dell, Dell Networking, Dell Networking Switches, Dell S4810, Dell S6000, Dell VMware, Dell VMware NSX, Dell VMware NSX 6, Dell VMware NSX 6.0, Dell VMware NSX 6.1, Dell VMware NSX-v, Dell VMware NSX-v 6, Dell VMware NSX-v 6.0, Dell VMware NSX-v 6.1, Dell VMware NSX-vSphere, Dell VMware NSX-vSphere 6, Dell VMware NSX-vSphere 6.0, Dell VMware NSX-vSphere 6.1, Dell VRF, Dell VRF-lite, Dell VRF-lite configuration, Distributed Logical Router, DLR, DLR Control VM, Edge VLAN, ESXi 5.5, multitenancy, Multitenancy Across Physical and Logical, Multitenancy Across Physical and Logical Environments, Multitenancy Across Physical and Logical Networks, multitenant, multitenant framework, Network Virtualization, NSX 6, NSX 6.0, NSX 6.1, NSX L2 Gateway, NSX-V, NSX-vSphere, NVO, NVO and VRF-lite, overlapping IP addresses, overlapping IPs, PE, Perimeter Edge, S4810, S6000, SDN, software defined networking, tenant, tenant VRF, tenant workloads, VDS, virtual appliance, virtual appliances, virtual distributed switch, virtual router, virtualization, vlan, vmware, VMware Distributed Logical Router, VMware DLR, VMware DLR Control VM, VMware Edge Services Router, VMware ESR, VMWare ESX, VMware ESXi, VMware ESXi 5.5, VMware NSX, VMware NSX 6, VMware NSX 6.0, VMware NSX 6.1, VMware NSX L2 Gateway, VMware NVO, VMware PE, VMware Perimeter Edge, VMware VDS, VMware virtual appliance, VMware virtual appliances, VMware Virtual Distributed Switch, VMware vSphere, VMware vSphere 5.5, VNI, VR, VRF, VRF-lite, VRF-lite configuration, VXLAN, VXLAN Network Identifier | 1 Comment

Firewalling & Micro-segmentation with VMware NSX

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Humair

One very exciting and strong use case for VMware NSX is advanced security. VMware NSX has some inherent security features and also allows for 3rd party security appliance integration. In this blog, I’ll briefly discuss the firewalling and micro-segmentation capabilities … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell Force10, Labs, Network Architecture, Network Security, Networking, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware | Tagged centralized firewall, Dell, Dell Networking, Dell Networking S4810, Dell Networking S4810 switch, Dell Networking S6000, Dell Networking S6000 switch, Dell S4810 switch, Dell S6000, Dell S6000 switch, Dell VMware NSX, DFW, DFW logging, distributed firewall, Distributed Firewall logging, east-west traffic, Edge Services Gateway, ESG, ESXi, ESXi hypervisor, firewall, firewall logging, firewall virtual appliance, firewall virtual appliances, micro-segmentation, Micro-segmentation with VMware NSX, microsegmentation, microsegmentation with VMware NSX, network segmentation, North-South traffic, NSX DFW, NSX DFW logging, NSX Distributed Firewall logging, NSX Edge Services Gateway, NSX ESG, NSX Security Groups, NSX-V, NSX-vSphere, One-Arm Firewall, perimeter-centric, perimeter-centric security, RBAC, Role Based Access Control, S4810 switch, S6000, S6000 switch, SDDC, security, security appliance, Security Groups, Security Tag, segmentation, Software Defined Data Center, traditional firewall, traffic tromboning, vCenter, VM Name, vmware, VMware DFW, VMware Distributed Firewall, VMware ESXi, VMware ESXi hypervisor, VMware NSX, VMware NSX DFW, VMware NSX DFW logging, VMware NSX Distributed Firewall, VMware NSX Distributed Firewall logging, VMware NSX Edge Services Gateway, VMware NSX ESG, VMware NSX firewall logging, VMware NSX-V, VMware NSX-vSphere, VMware vCenter | 4 Comments

Cumulus Linux on Dell Networking Switches

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Humair

It’s pretty cool that Dell allows its customers to install other network switch OSes on their networking switches; it’s the only major networking hardware vendor in the industry that allows for this. Other networking hardware vendors tie their proprietary network … Continue reading →

Dell Networking and VMware NSX: Bridging Between Logical & Physical Networks

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Humair

In a prior blog, Creating Logical Networks and Services with VMware NSX on Dell Infrastructure, I discussed how easily VMs can be moved from physical (VLANs) to logical networks (Network Virtualization Overlays or NVOs). In practicality, there will almost always … Continue reading →

Posted in Dell, Dell Force10, Labs, Network Architecture, Networking, Protocols, Technology, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, VMware, VMware | Tagged CLI, decouple network, decoupled, Dell, Dell NSX Reference Architecture, Dell PowerEdge, Dell PowerEdge Rack Server, Dell PowerEdge Server, Dell S6000, Dell Server, Dell-VMware NSX Reference Architecture, Dell-VMware NSX solution, Distributed Logical Router, Distributed Logical Router Control VM, DLR, DLR Control VM, Hardware NSX L2 Bridge, Hardware VTEP, Logical Network, logical network services, Logical Networks, logical router CLI, logical switch, logical switch CLI, logical switches, Logical-Physical Bridge, network services, NSX, NSX bridge, NSX CLI, NSX design/deployment, NSX Distributed Logical Router, NSX Edge, NSX Edge Appliance, NSX Edge Appliances, NSX Hardware L2 Bridge, NSX L2 Bridge, NSX Manager, NSX Manager virtual appliance, NSX Perimeter Edge, NSX Perimeter Edge CLI, NSX Perimeter Edge Router CLI, NSX Router CLI, NSX Services Gateway, NSX vCenter plugin, NSX-vSphere, NSX-vSphere design/deployment, NSX-vSphere plugin, NSX-vSphere vCenter plugin, NVI VLAN Bridge, Perimeter Edge, Physical-Logical Bridge, PowerEdge server, Rack Server, router CLI, S6000, SDN, SDN solution, SDN solution with NSX, software defined networking, switch CLI, vCenter, Virtual Extensible LAN, virtual machine, vlan, VLAN VXLAN bridge, VM, vmware, VMware NSX, VMware NSX design/deployment, VMware NSX Manager, VMware NSX Manager virtual appliance, VMware NSX Reference Architecture, VMware NSX-vSphere, VMware NSX-vSphere design/deployment, VMware vCenter, VMware vSphere, VNI-VLAN Bridge, vSphere, vSphere Web Client, VTEP, VXLAN, VXLAN encapsulation, VXLAN header, VXLAN-VLAN Bridge | Leave a comment