Understanding whether your Dell M1000e enclosure is equipped with a version 1.0 or 1.1 midplane is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with network fabrics—particularly when deploying the Dell EqualLogic PS-M4110. The version of the midplane can be identified via the Midplane Revision field found under the Summary tab of the CMC web-based interface.
Midplane Compatibility and Network Fabrics
The M4110 Installation Guide specifies that a version 1.1 midplane is necessary for utilizing Fabric A. This means that if your enclosure is equipped with a version 1.0 midplane, you may want to consider testing your configurations on Fabric B, provided it is available and configured for Ethernet support. The dependency on midplane versions for specific fabrics highlights the importance of understanding your hardware’s specifications in relation to your networking setup.
Configuration Recommendations
Official support documentation, such as the Dell EQL BP1049 white paper, typically recommends a Link Aggregation Group (LAG)-based configuration. A stack-based configuration is not commonly presented as a viable alternative in official documentation. When configuring your network settings, it is advisable to follow these recommendations closely to ensure compatibility and stability.
Troubleshooting Failover and Network Redundancy
When testing network failover and redundancy, it’s important to simulate actual component failures rather than merely disabling ports at the configuration level. This method accurately tests the system’s failover capabilities. For example, physically removing the connection from A1 can reveal whether the system correctly fails over to A2, rather than relying solely on configuration-based port shutdowns.
For further detailed guidance, please refer to the official Dell EqualLogic M4110 Installation Guide and other Dell resources.
