When starting out with Azure Stack HCI with SDN, it’s easy to feel like you need to rush to get up to speed. However, moving too quickly can cause you to miss the bigger picture. This is exactly what happened to me when I began my journey, and I don’t want others to make the same mistake. So what is Azure Stack HCI? Azure Stack HCI is an operating system designed specifically for hyperconverged infrastructure, it is consumed from Azure on a consumption basis and has deep integration in to Azure.  With Azure Stack HCI you can view all of your infrastructure clusters and Virtual Machines i ..read more

As this journey continues, I figured it was time to address the scary ghost in the room, multitenancy.  If I am being honest, this is where is pend the mass majority of my design hours.  From these design decisions it has massive impacts on component design, for example, how many edges, how many T0/T1, how many L3 GWs, how many vNETs, etc.  In this article, I will compare and contrast the different multitenant design options and impacts of VMware NSX and Azure Stack SDN. Apologies in advance for the length of this one but it is a heavy topic Feel free to check in on this series ..read more

Any time I am attempting to learn a new technology, I find it helpful to compare components and feature parity to help shorten the learning curve.  Microsoft SDN on Azure Stack HCI and VMware NSX on VMware vSphere have many similarities but different approaches.  Below you will find the compare and contrast of the many virtual infrastructure components that make up both solutions. Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn Summary: This article was intended to be short and precise.  Hopefully, the above helps everyone.&n ..read more

Now that we have gotten some useful tips out of the way, I feel it is time to compare and contrast the two Software Defined Solutions.  What better place to start this journey than with the brains that run this show.  Kind of obvious, right?  Below you will find a summary of what is NSX Manager and what is Network Controller.  I’ve added some useful links to store for a later read. Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn FYI: Below when I cover the Network Controller Cluster, it will be based off the current deploy ..read more

Now that we have covered the brains of these two solutions, I feel it is time to compare and contrast the Edge (Ingress/Egress).  Traffic has to enter and leave these environments and each solution performs these tasks differently.  Below you will find a summary of what is the NSX Edge and what is Gateway and Software Defined Load Balancer.  I’ve added some useful links to store for a later read. Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn Youtube videos you will find useful: SDN Overview [youtu.be]  SLB [youtu.be] NSX ..read more

Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn What is a Virtual Network? In Azure Stack HCI SDN and Azure Cloud you have the concepts of a vNET that Microsoft defines as: Azure Virtual Network is a service that provides the fundamental building block for your private network in Azure. An instance of the service (a virtual network) enables many types of Azure resources to securely communicate with each other, the internet, and on-premises networks. What is a Virtual Subnet? Virtual Networks give you the ability to create subnets within your ..read more

Whenever given the chance I like to start a blog series off with useful resources.  If you are like me then when you start down a new learning path you can feel disorganized while attempting to put together useful information, links, and videos.  I hope the below helps everyone with some organization around useful sources of information.  I know I wish I had this information two (2) weeks ago. Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn Microsoft Software Defined Networking (SDN) in Azure Stack HCI and Windows Server Docum ..read more

Recently in my career I had the pleasure of spreading across multiple software defined networking (SDN) solutions.  The one that has been the most fun to learn has been Microsoft SDN on top of Azure Stack HCI.  I discovered already having an SDN background had both its pros and cons in my journey to learn Azure Stack SDN.  I thought I would take the time to write a blog series in the hopes it will help others who have the desire to spread across multiple SDN solutions. Feel free to check in on this series: https://digitalthoughtdisruption.com/category/azure-stack-sdn Majority of ..read more

It is time to deploy a Stretched Tier-0 Gateway Configure segments for the Tier-0 Uplink Create a Stretched Tier-0 GW Connect the Stretched Tier-1 GW to the Stretched Tier-0 GW Test end to end connectivity First we need to log into the Primary Global Manager Networking > Conenectivity > Segments ADD SEGMENT Name the Segment – I recommend putting something to indicate stretched uplink Choose the primary location and the primary VLAN Transport Zone Provide the VLAN ID and save No Confirm the status is successful Create a second segment for the other uplink Provide a name that indica ..read more

To continue from where the previous article left off we will now import objects to the Global Managers Pre-Req: Check the status on all of your T0 GWs, T1 GWs, and segments  Time to import Location 1’s Objects Log into your Primary Site NSX-T Global Manager System > Configuration > Location Manager Under your Primary Site Local Manager select Actions > Import to GM Ensure you have a backup Click proceed to import Next Confirm these are the accurate networks you desire to import This process takes 10-20 minutes to complete Wait until successful Log into the Location 1 LM Con ..read more