Cisco has decided to extend the Q3 Cisco Smart Play bundles until the end of the year.  Now until December 31, 2011 there are (11) extensively discounted UCS B-Series Blade Server and C-Series Rack-Mount Server Bundles that are fully configured and ready to be implemented in any data center. This is a great opportunity for any company to experience the next-generation of data center platforms with Cisco’s UCS at an exceptionally low entry point.

UCS B-Series Smart Play Promo Summary

The Smart Play UCS B-Series Bundles have (7) options that range from an introductory priced B200 bundle to a high performance B230 Bundle which most now include the NEW Cisco 6248 48 Unified Port Fabric Interconnects

UCS C-Series Smart Play Promo Summary

The Smart Play UCS C-Series Bundles have (2) options that are equally priced to be among the most competitive price point in the market. These C-Series Smart Play Bundles have both the C200 and C210 Rack Mount Servers and all include the P81E Virtual Interface Card.

For further information and pricing on these Cisco Smart Play Bundle Promotions, please email insidesales@eGroup-us.com or call 1877-eGroup-1.

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First, we had to shut down the server and assign it an address for use with CIMC so we could hit the server directly. Once this was done, we saw the firmware version of the CIMC was at 1.1.1. One of the requirements of the P81E is firmware for the CIMC specifically at 1.2.x or greater. On the Cisco website when downloading the latest firmware all that was offered for the 1.4 code was the Cisco Host Update Utility, which downloads as an ISO.

When using this, it clearly states that you CANNOT upgrade the BIOS or CIMC versions with the Utility until you’re at 1.2 or later. Since we were at 1.1, we had to download the BIOS / CIMC upgrades separately (which download as ZIP files containing the necessary BIN files). While that was downloading we updated all the other components using the Host Update Utility by mounting the ISO as Virtual Media via the CIMC interface– love this interface by the way.

When trying to upload the new firmware for the CIMC, we used the Browser Client, which lets you browse to a file on your local hard drive and upload it. This method failed several times, with only an “HTTP ERROR” status. When we switched over and used the TFTP server option, it worked without issues, and got our CIMC to the 1.2.x code desired. Finally.

From here, we had to let the CIMC reboot and then reconnect back in, where we found this nifty new tab under the “Inventory” menu on the main Server tab (left hand side).

On the Adapters tab it shows the Cisco VIC card and some additional tabs for vNICs / vHBAs.

Here’s the fun part– creating vNICs and/or vHBAs. This is somewhat similar to the Palo adapter on the UCS B series servers, and all the vNICs you carve here are presented without any additional drivers or installation steps (assuming ESXi 4.1 or later as the hypervisor), at 10Gbps. Simply clone an existing vNIC/vHBA or add a new one, set the properties as desired, and fire up the server.

One additional note that’s semi related– other vendors let you carve the NICs and show only the bandwidth they have presented. In a vSphere world, if you carve up a bunch of interfaces and they show up as anything less than 10Gb, you are limited to 4 vMotions at a time, max. With 10Gb, it will move 8 at a time– which is faster evacuation or hosts going into maintenance mode (most of the time 8 VMs are in flight at once).

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Mt. Pleasant, SC – September 19, 2011 – eGroup, Inc., providing Technology Solutions for Serious Competitors, announced today that it has achieved the Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialization from Cisco. This specialization recognizes eGroup as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, design and deploy comprehensive Cisco® Unified Data Center solutions.

The specialization provides role-based training in three essential areas: Unified Fabric for optimizing data and storage needs; Unified Computing for streamlining data center resources and uniting network, computational, storage and virtualization platforms; and Unified Network Services for advancing the way application delivery and security services are provided in the data center network or computing environment.

“The Cisco Advanced Data Center Specialization (DCA)is an important component of our market leadership goal in the Data Center/Virtualization space” said eGroup Principal Mike Carter. “Achieving our DCA specialization now allows us to design and sell total data center solutions and to share our deep UCS deployment expertise with any of our clients.”

“As a Cisco Advanced Data Center Architecture Specialized Partner, eGroup has made a significant investment in the training required to help customers accelerate their business growth, reduce the total cost of ownership, and extend the life of their current infrastructure by making the data center more efficient, agile and resilient,” said Ralph Nimergood, vice president of data center architecture for the worldwide partner department at Cisco.

The Cisco Resale Channel Program provides partners with the training required to build sales, design and technical talent and then validates their skills through a third-party audit.

About eGroup

Providing customers across the southeast with a distinct competitive advantage since 1999, eGroup is a visionary technology solutions and services firm with the ability to execute swiftly in a rapidly changing information technology landscape. eGroup’s solutions drive customers’ cost containment, revenue growth, and service objectives by addressing challenges associated with mobility, access to critical applications and data, and security. eGroup’s expertise and core competency is focused in three distinct areas: Cloud Services (public and private), Application Services, and End-User Computing. To deliver these solutions, eGroup has strategic partnerships with industry leaders that include VMware, Cisco, and EMC, along with Citrix, Microsoft, and Trend Micro, and a highly-skilled workforce trained in all of the latest developments in information technology. To learn more, visit www.eGroup-us.com.

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Now until October 29, 2011, Cisco has announced (11) extensively discounted UCS B-Series Blade Server and C-Series Rack-Mount Server Bundles that are fully configured and ready to be implemented in any data center.  This is a great opportunity for any company to experience the next-generation of data center platforms with Cisco’s UCS at an exceptionally low entry point.

UCS B-Series Smart Play Promo Summary 

The Smart Play UCS B-Series Bundles have (8) options that range from an introductory priced B200 bundle to a high performance B230 Bundle which all include the Cisco M81KR Virtual Interface Card.  

UCS C-Series Smart Play Promo Summary

The Smart Play UCS C-Series Bundles have (3) options that are equally priced to be among the most competitive price point in the market.  These C-Series Smart Play Bundles have both the C200 and C210 Rack Mount Servers and all include the P81E Virtual Interface Card.

For further information and pricing on these Cisco Smart Play Bundle Promotions, please email insidesales@eGroup-us.com  or call 1877-eGroup-1.

The post NEW AND ENHANCED CISCO SMART PLAY BUNDLES appeared first on eGroup.

VMware ESXi 4.1 show’s Intel 82576 Gigabit NIC on Cisco UCS C210 M2 as 10Mbps Full – originally seen here – (Thanks!)

In my case, one nic negotiated 100 Full, the other to 100 Half – then after the firmware update, one went to 10 Full, the other went to 10 Half – then after the power off for 3 minutes, one went to 1000 Full, but the other is at 100 Full. Both are set to autonegotiate, and yes, I checked the switch port settings too…

Next step is to fully disconnect the power from the power supplies – but since this one is sitting more than 3 hours away I have to gently “fiddle” with the APC PDUs to find which port the power supplies are plugged into so I can administratively “shut it” – keep your fingers crossed…

The post VMWARE ESXI 4.1 SHOW’S INTEL 82576 GIGABIT NIC ON CISCO UCS C210 M2 AS 10MBPS FULL appeared first on eGroup.

Long story short, the resolution was to downgrade the firmware to run at the same level as the current UCS Manager code– in this case, it was stepping down to 1.3(1c).

The post Cisco UCS – KVM VIRTUAL MEDIA ISO MOUNT FREEZES AT 99MB appeared first on eGroup.

Join eGroup at our Mt. Pleasant office on 1.18, where the Cisco Network on Wheels (NOW) Van will be onsite – decked with the latest in Unified Communications and collaboration, and other advanced solutions.

Stop by our office any time beteen 11-2 (this is an open house event) to enjoy lunch by Home Team BBQ, network with the eGroup and Cisco teams, and check out the technology. We’ll also have our own hands-on UCS lab up and running!

For the invitation and registration link, click here.  We hope you can join us!

The post CISCO NETWORK ON WHEELS (NOW) VAN IS COMING TO MT. PLEASANT 1.18 appeared first on eGroup.

Charleston, SC VMware User Group

(As usual, no cost to attend and lunch & door prizes provided.)

Join us for the upcoming Charleston 4th Quarter VMUG! On December 10th the Charleston VMware User Group will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn-Charleston Airport. Come experience the power of the Cisco Unified Computing System first-hand and see VMware View 4.5 in action on Wyse thin clients. Hosted by eGroup, VMware, Cisco and Wyse, this VMUG event will provide its members with an experience like no other. This is a great opportunity to meet with your peers to discuss virtualization trends, best practices and the latest technology.

Agenda

10:30 a.m. Check In (Please Pre-Register for this special event)
11:00 a.m. Welcome – Ron Davis, Charleston VMUG
11:15 a.m. Cisco UCS Demo
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:15 p.m. Continued Cisco UCS Demo, Hands On Labs, VMware Q+A
2:00 p.m. Wrap-Up

There is no cost to attend this event, lunch will be provided, and we will have door prizes! Attendance at this one-of-a-kind event will be limited, so register now. Due to the unique “Hands On” nature of this event, please pre-register. eGroup, Cisco, VMware and Wyse professionals will be on-hand to provide product information and technical guidance, and you’ll be guaranteed some production-quality experiences with some of the most relevant technologies available today in the Data Center infrastructure industry.

REGISTER HERE!

Location:

Hilton Garden Inn
Charleston Airport
5265 International Blvd.
Cypress Ballroon
N. Charleston. SC 29418

The post DON’T MISS A GROUND BREAKING VMWARE USER GROUP EVENT! appeared first on eGroup.

To learn more about this game changing solution, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns944/index.html

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