How to Add a Top-of-Rack Switch in VMM in System Center 2012 R2

Updated: May 13, 2016

Applies To: System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager

With System Center 2012 R2, you can add a top-of-rack (TOR) switch as a resource in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM). This helps you keep the settings in the TOR switch synchronized with the settings that you see in VMM.

To do this, you must first ensure that you have the necessary provider software on the VMM management server. If your switch is based on the Common Information Model (CIM) network switch profile, you can use the provider that is included in VMM in System Center 2012 R2. Otherwise, you must obtain the provider software that is provided by the switch vendor and install it on the VMM management server. Then you can add the TOR switch to VMM.

If you want to add a TOR switch to your configuration in VMM, you must first perform the following actions:

1. Ensure that you have the necessary provider software on the VMM management server. If your switch is based on the Common Information Model (CIM) network switch profile, you can use the provider that is included in VMM in System Center 2012 R2. Otherwise, you must obtain the provider software that is provided by the switch vendor and install it on the VMM management server. After you install the provider software, restart the System Center Virtual Machine Manager service.

   If you have installed a high availability VMM management server on a cluster, ensure that the provider is installed on all nodes of the cluster.

   For more information about installing provider software, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation.

2. For your TOR switch, make sure that you know the manufacturer and model, the name of an account that has configuration permissions, the connection string, and the host groups to include. If certificates are used for the provider software, make sure you know how to view the thumbprint information for those certificates.

To add a top-of-rack switch in System Center 2012 R2

1. If you installed provider software as part of fulfilling the “Prerequisites” that are listed before this procedure, confirm that the provider is listed in VMM. To do this, open the Settings workspace, and in the Settings pane, click Configuration Providers. In the Configuration Providers pane, review the list of installed provider software.

2. Open the Fabric workspace.

3. On the Home tab, in the Show group, click Fabric Resources.

4. In the Fabric pane, expand Networking, and then click Network Service.

   Network services include gateways, virtual switch extensions, network managers, and TOR switches.

5. On the Home tab, in the Add group, click Add Resources, and then click Network Service.

   The Add Network Service Wizard opens.

6. On the Name page, enter a name and optional description, and then click Next.

7. On the Manufacturer and Model page, make selections as follows:

   • To use the provider software that is included in VMM, in the Manufacturer list, click Microsoft, and in the Model list, click Microsoft Network Switch Profile Switch.

   • To use provider software that is provided by the switch vendor, click the appropriate Manufacturer and Model for your switch.

   Then click Next.

8. On the Credentials page, either click Browse and then on the Select a Run As Account dialog box, select an account, or click Create Run As Account and create a new account. Then click Next.

9. On the Connection String page, in the Connection string box, type the connection string that is used by the TOR switch, and then click Next.

   For example, you might enter the following connection string:

   https://TORswitch1.contoso.com:5986

   Important

   If you are not using the provider software that is included in VMM, when you enter the connection string, use the syntax that is defined by the manufacturer of your TOR switch. For more information about the required syntax, refer to the manufacturer’s documentation.

10. On the Certificates page, if certificates are listed, verify that the thumbprints of those certificates match the thumbprints of the certificates that are installed on the TOR switch. Then select the box to confirm that the certificates can be imported to the trusted certificate store. Click Next.

    Note

    If no certificates are listed, the connection string that was provided probably does not require a certificate, and you can continue to the next page of the wizard. However, if no certificates are listed but your TOR switch requires them, confirm that the certificates were installed correctly on your device.

11. On the Provider page, in the Configuration provider list, select an available provider, and then click Test to run basic validation against the TOR switch by using the selected provider. If tests indicate that the provider software works as expected, click Next.

12. On the Host Group page, select one or more host groups to which the TOR switch will be available.

13. On the Summary page, review and confirm the settings, and then click Finish.

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