Dell VxRail Architecture Overview

Satellite nodes

VxRail satellite nodes are single nodes that deploy in edge environments. Satellite nodes are managed through a centralized primary cluster running VxRail 7.0.300 or later.

Satellite nodes include VxRail HCI system software similar to a VxRail 2-node cluster with VMware vSAN or a traditional multinode VxRail cluster. Satellite nodes provide consistent VxRail operational experience across the edge and core. Satellite nodes do not share storage and do not include VMware vSAN licenses.

With VxRail 7.0.450 and later, satellite nodes can be managed by a standard cluster and a VxRail 2-node vSAN cluster. Do not exceed 20 satellite nodes on a 2-node cluster to avoid performance issues. The minimum cluster size required to manage satellite nodes is three nodes. Satellite nodes are managed from an existing VxRail cluster with VMware vSAN that can manage up to 500 satellite nodes.

Verify that VxRail satellite nodes that are remotely deployed have TCP/IP connectivity to a VxRail Manager instance on a previously deployed VxRail cluster. This connectivity is required to enable the LCM of the node, centralized monitoring, and management. Each satellite node must have an IP address and be able to connect over the VxRail external management network to VxRail Manager. VxRail Manager communicates with the node using the assigned IP address. VxRail Manager does not run a discovery process for satellite nodes.

During initial power-on, a VxRail Manager instance connection must be established before you configure a satellite node. VxRail Manager configures the node with a standard switch or a VMware VDS. Plan your data center network to allow the VxRail external management network to route externally. Work with your network administrator or service provider to support this network to route to each planned VxRail satellite node.

VxRail Manager performs LCM of the satellite nodes, including updating the firmware, BIOS, and the VMware ESXi operating system. The VxRail bundles that get pushed to the satellite node are smaller than a standard VxRail upgrade bundle.

The primary cluster should be upgraded first, and then satellite nodes can be upgraded to the same version. The upgrade does not run on the satellite nodes simultaneously as the primary cluster.

Before you use satellite nodes, deploy a compatible VxRail cluster with local VMware vSAN storage to support the management and monitoring of satellite nodes. Verify that your workload requirements at remote locations do not exceed the resource capacity of a satellite node. VxRail satellite nodes are limited to a single instance and cannot be reconfigured to join a cluster.