Dell Chassis Management Controller Version 6.0 for PowerEdge M1000e User’s Guide

For information to configure CMC network settings, see Configuring Initial CMC Network. This initial configuration assigns the TCP/IP networking parameters that enable access to CMC.

Ensure that CMC and iDRAC on each server and the network management ports for all switch I/O Modules are connected to a common internal network in the M1000e chassis. This allows the management network to be isolated from the server data network. It is important to separate this traffic for uninterrupted access to chassis management.

CMC is connected to the management network. All external access to CMC and iDRACs is accomplished through CMC. Access to the managed servers, conversely, is accomplished through network connections to I/O modules (IOMs). This allows the application network to be isolated from the management network.

It is recommended to isolate chassis management from the data network. Dell cannot support or guarantee uptime of a chassis that is improperly integrated into your environment. Due to the potential of traffic on the data network, the management interfaces on the internal management network can be saturated by traffic intended for servers. This results in CMC and iDRAC communication delays. These delays may cause unpredictable chassis behavior, such as CMC displaying iDRAC as offline even when it is up and running, which in turn causes other unwanted behavior. If physically isolating the management network is impractical, the other option is to separate CMC and iDRAC traffic to a separate VLAN. CMC and individual iDRAC network interfaces can be configured to use a VLAN.

If you have one chassis, connect CMC and the standby CMC to the management network. If you have a redundant CMC, use another network cable and connect the GB CMC port to a second port of the management network.

If you have more than one chassis you can choose between the basic connection, where each CMC is connected to the management network, or a daisy-chained chassis connection, where the chassis are connected in series and only one CMC is connected to the management network. The basic connection type uses more ports on the management network and provides greater redundancy. The daisy-chain connection type uses fewer ports on the management network but introduces dependencies between CMCs, reducing the redundancy of the system.