How to Select Hardware for Azure Stack HCI

Datacenter networking servers

Azure Stack HCI is Microsoft’s hyper-converged infrastructure cluster solution for hosting virtualized Windows and Linux workloads. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the network components and hardware required to run virtualized workloads on-premises with Azure Stack HCI.

How to select the correct network components for Azure Stack HCI

Before we start with the actual server hardware you need for Azure Stack HCI, we need to discuss the required network components. What you need to consider is whether to order a new switch for your Azure Stack HCI setup or not, because there are a lot of new features used in networking with Azure Stack HCI.

You have new technologies like Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) added with Azure Stack HCI and Storage Spaces Direct. With larger Azure Stack HCI clusters, it could also be necessary to upgrade your storage network to 25 Gbit/s or even more.

Let us look a bit deeper into the RDMA topic: RDMA comes with two protocol options, the Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol (iWARP) and RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE). If your network adapters only support RoCE and you are not able to use iWARP, your switches need to support Data Center Bridging (IEEE 802.1Qbb).

You can find a selection of switches tested by Microsoft on this Microsoft support page. There are also additional requirements for the switches listed in this other support page from Microsoft.

The good news here, if you are planning for a cluster with three or fewer nodes, you do not need to have a switch for the storage network adapters. Azure Stack HCI supports daisy-chaining of network adapters, as shown in the picture below.

Azure Stack HCI supports daisy-chaining of network adapters

As you can see, daisy-chaining basically links the network adapters to build a perfect circle and keep the storage communication up and running. Such a configuration simplifies the network setup for small clusters.

How to use the Azure Stack HCI catalog to select the correct server hardware

Before you select the actual hardware, you need to know that Azure Stack HCI is only supported on certified hardware from Microsoft OEM partners. There are two kinds of certified systems: validated node configurations and integrated node configurations.

Azure Stack HCI validated node vs. integrated node configurations

The main difference between validated nodes and integrated nodes is the installation of Azure Stack HCI and the support integration with the partner. With validated systems, you need to install Azure Stack HCI yourself; while an integrated system comes with Azure Stack HCI preinstalled on the hardware.

In addition, the support is different. While integrated systems have a joint support model between Microsoft and the hardware partner, validated systems don’t have that strong tie between both partners. And hardware and software support are separated.  

integrated node Azure Stack HCI configurations have joint support model between Microsoft and the hardware partner

Microsoft recommends using integrated systems due to the easier integration. Within the Microsoft Azure Stack HCI hardware catalog, you can select between both options and see the available hardware partners.

The Microsoft Azure Stack HCI hardware catalog offers Azure Stack HCI validated node and integrated node configurations

On the page, you can browse and filter for the components and system configuration you prefer.

You can use filters to choose your preferred system configuration

On the top right, you can open a small wizard which helps you to choose the right configuration.

There's a built-in tool to help you choose the right configuration

Using Microsoft’s Azure Stack HCI sizing tool

Before you begin, you should use the Azure Stack HCI sizing tool provided by Microsoft.

Using Microsoft’s Azure Stack HCI sizing tool

You can find the sizing tool on Microsoft’s Azure Stack HCI solutions website.

  • Create a new project and start your configuration. First, you begin with the selection of the hardware components, for example, the CPU.
You begin with the selection of the hardware components
  • After you select your hardware, you need to add the workloads you want to run on the Azure Stack HCI cluster.
After you select your hardware, you need to add the workloads you want to run on the Azure Stack HCI cluster.
  • Within the last step, you should see the results and proposed system.
See the results and proposed system in the last step

In any case, the Microsoft Azure Stack HCI sizing tool is not fully integrated into any vendor sizing. You should work on additional sizing and planning with your preferred hardware partner.

Microsoft’s Azure Stack HCI planning wizard

Now let’s go back to the planning wizard. Again, in the first step, you decide on a validated or integrated system.

You decide on a validated or integrated system
  • For the next step, you can filter for regional availability and up to three hardware partners.
You can filter for regional availability and up to three hardware partners
  • You select the workload type to run on the servers. Now, you have six options to choose from, but these workloads are expected to expand in the future.
Select the workload type to run on the servers
  • After you chose the workload, you need to choose the form factor of the system. If you have never worked with ruggedized servers, those are mostly built for environments with ruthless conditions such as oil rigs, mining, construction sites, or military operations.
Choose the form factor of the system
  • Based on the selections you made, you will see the applicable servers.
you will see the applicable servers

Again, for optimal sizing, please contact your preferred hardware partner.

Conclusion

Azure Stack HCI is Microsoft’s new infrastructure-optimized operating system. With that, there are some challenges that may come up for a classic data center and hardware partner, such as the tight integration between the operating system and the hardware. The best example here is Remote Direct Memory Access and the integration with the SMB Direct protocol.

With the new bandwidth limitations as well as the requirements for Data Center Bridging, changes may be required within your network. But in the end, as soon as you have determined the hardware and infrastructure refresh required to use Azure Stack HCI, you will have a great and modern, infrastructure-focused operating system to run your virtualized Windows and Linux workloads on-premises.

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