Dell OpenManage Integration with Microsoft Windows Admin Center Version 3.0 User’s Guide

Prepare nodes for Windows Server HCI and Azure Stack HCI cluster expansion

To prepare nodes for cluster expansion:

1. Connect to the cluster using Windows Admin Center and launch OpenManage Integration extension.
2. Select View > Expand Cluster. Another menu with drop-down appears. Select Add Nodes. Alternatively, go to the Action menu, under EXPAND CLUSTER, select Add Nodes.
3. To display list of nodes, under Select Nodes to Prepare, click Select Nodes. The extension fetches all nodes available on the Server Manager page in the Windows Admin Center and displays the list of nodes.
4. Under Select compatible nodes, select any nodes that you want to add to the cluster. You can also search any node using the search box or click select all check box to select all nodes. Ensure that new nodes are not part of the cluster.
   NOTE: Total number of nodes supported in a cluster is 16. For example, for a cluster with existing 4 nodes, you can select up to 12 nodes for cluster expansion.
5. After nodes are selected, click Check under High Level Compatibility to validate the new nodes and cluster nodes as per Dell recommendations.
   The validation happens as follows:

   • Both new nodes and cluster nodes must be from Dell Technologies.
     NOTE: Only AX nodes from Dell Technologies such as AX-640, AX-740XD, AX-6515, AX-7525 nodes are supported for HCI cluster expansion. Storage Space Direct Ready Nodes are not supported for HCI cluster expansion.
   • New nodes and cluster nodes must be of the same model for symmetrical cluster.
   • Operating system installed on new nodes must be supported and same as cluster nodes.
     NOTE:

     • High level compatibility check fails with status as "Non-compliant" when a node with Azure Stack HCI 22H2 OS is selected to be prepared for a cluster having Azure Stack HCI 21H2 OS. In this case, upgrade the cluster nodes to version 22H2 before proceeding with cluster expansion.
     • High level compatibility check fails with status as "Partially compliant" when a node with Windows Server 2022 OS is selected to be prepared for a cluster having Windows Server 2019 OS. In this case, Dell Technologies recommends to upgrade the cluster nodes to version 2022 before proceeding for cluster expansion.
   If the high level compatibility shows

   • Non-compliant: None of the selected nodes are compliant as per Dell recommendations. You cannot proceed for the License Availability check.
   • Partially Compliant: Few of the selected nodes are compliant as per Dell recommendations and you can proceed for License Availability check only for the compliant nodes.
   • Compliant: All the selected nodes are compliant as per Dell recommendations and you can proceed for License Availability check for all the compliant nodes.

   If the high level compatibility shows Non-compliant or Partially Compliant, click View Details to learn more about the nodes and type of non-compliance.

6. Click Check for License Availability to verify whether new nodes and cluster nodes have 'OMIWAC Premium License for MSFT HCI Solutions' installed.
   Before moving for HCI Configuration Profile check, ensure new nodes and cluster nodes have OMIWAC premium license installed.
7. Click Check for HCI Configuration Profile to validate new nodes as well as cluster nodes against symmetrical recommendations from Dell. If internet connection is not available, see the Troubleshooting section to run HCI configuration profile check in offline mode.
   If any of the node is not compatible, click View Details to see more information about the nodes, reason for non-compliant and recommendations. For more information about HCI configuration profile rules, see HCI configuration profile.

   NOTE: HCI configuration profile will fail if any of the required configurations fail with a "Critical" error. Review the recommendations and details to resolve any issues to achieve HCI configuration profile and proceed to the next step.

   When the configuration fails with a "Warning", this means the configuration can be supported for cluster deployment, but could result in sub-optimal cluster performance. Therefore, it should be reviewed.

   Before you proceed to the next step, ensure HCI configurations of all nodes are compliant as per Dell recommendations.
8. After you successfully complete the high-level compatibility check, license check, and HCI configuration profile check, click Save. Under Select Nodes to Prepare, click Update Compliance to check for firmware, BIOS, and drivers compliance for new nodes and cluster nodes. Using 'Expand Cluster' flow, you can update firmware, BIOS, and drivers for new nodes only. To generate compliance report for both new nodes and cluster nodes:
   1. Select one of the methods to download catalog files.
      • Online catalog to download the catalog automatically from dell.com for PowerEdge servers. Online catalog is selected by default.
      • Offline catalog to use the DRM catalog configured in a CIFS location.

        OMIMSWAC with or without Internet access allows you to select the Offline - Dell Repository Manager Catalog to generate compliance report. You may use this option when the Internet is not available or to use a customized DRM catalog. When internet is not available, before using offline catalog ensure DSU and IC settings are configured on the Settings page.

        • To use offline catalog, select DRM Settings to ensure the CIFS share path is configured with Microsoft HCI solution DRM catalog. To create a DRM catalog, see the Technical article.

      When finished, click Check Compliance.

9. Compliance Results section shows compliance reports of cluster nodes and new nodes. Click View Details to see the compliance report or Export to export the report in CSV format. For more information about compliance report, see View hardware compliance report.
   • If the existing cluster nodes are non-compliant, ensure that the cluster nodes are compliant before adding new nodes in the cluster. To update cluster nodes, exit the wizard and go to the Compliance > Hardware Updates page for cluster update using cluster-aware updating method. And then use the "Add Nodes" feature to prepare nodes for cluster expansion.
   • If new nodes are non-compliant, click View Details in the Compliance Result to verify the non-compliant components and then click Finish to update the new nodes and keep them ready for cluster expansion. Click Update in progress- View to see the update status.
   • If new nodes are compliant, click View Details in the Summary to see the list of nodes that will be prepared for cluster expansion and then click Exit.