This article is intended for administrators wishing to use the SvHCI hardware console to configure IP addresses, troubleshoot networking and perform other node configuration tasks.
Using the SvHCI Host Console
This article describes the available SvHCI console options for configuring and troubleshooting an SvHCI node when Web GUI access is unavailable or has not yet been configured.
Console Overview and Navigation
This document details the configuration of a StorMagic HCI node through the console.
This may include setting a static IP address or changing an IP address after moving the node to a different environment.
SvHCI provides a curses-based console interface that enables keyboard-only configuration when Web access is unavailable or has not yet been configured.
Most actions are performed using the following keys:
- Arrow keys to move between options.
- Tab to move forward.
- Shift + Tab to move backward.
- Enter to select a menu item.
- Backspace to delete.
- Spacebar to select a checkbox option, such as the mirror setting on an interface.
- Press q to refresh the console screen if it does not refresh automatically.
SvHCI host console
System Status
The System Status option displays the current system status and status messages for the node.
System Status
Discovery
The Discovery option displays existing discovered StorMagic devices and provides options to add or remove entries and configure a SAN name.
StorMagic Discovery Documentation
Discovery configuration
Witness
The Witness option displays the clusters or mirrored targets for which the witness appliance is providing quorum.
This identifies which targets are currently using the witness appliance.
Witness usage from the SvHCI console
The following screenshot shows another example from a Witness appliance.
Witness appliance example
Network Interfaces
The Network Interfaces option enables the creation, deletion and configuration of the SvHCI network interfaces.
These interfaces provide the hypervisor's connectivity to the network, similar to VMkernel adapters in VMware. They are used for node communication, PowerShell cmdlet and WebUI management, storage synchronization (RF2), and virtual machine live migration.
Network Interfaces
password.Virtual Switches
The Virtual Switches menu enables administrators to add, remove and edit virtual switches.
This is commonly used when changing the physical NIC assigned to a virtual switch, for example if an incorrect adapter was selected during installation and management connectivity needs to be restored.
Virtual Switches
To modify the physical adapters assigned to a virtual switch, select Edit and enter the node password.
Edit Virtual Switch
Use the Up and Down arrow keys to select a network adapter, then use Tab and Enter to add or remove the selected NIC from the virtual switch.
Assign or remove physical NICs
Port Groups
A Port Group defines how virtual machines connect to a network. A port group may provide access to an external network through physical NICs or to an internal-only network.
This menu allows administrators to create, edit and delete port groups on the node.
VLAN tagging (micro-segmentation) can be configured by selecting Access mode and specifying the required VLAN ID.
Port Group configuration
Network Devices
The Network Devices menu displays the physical network adapters installed in the node.
Details include the MAC address, carrier status, negotiated link speed and the driver currently in use for each adapter.
Network Devices
This page is commonly used when changing the MTU size, for example when enabling Jumbo Frames.
Modify Network Device MTU
Network
The Network menu contains the node-wide networking configuration that is not tied to a specific interface.
This includes settings such as the hostname, DNS servers and NTP configuration.
Global Network Configuration
Routing
The Routing section enables the configuration and management of network routes.
Although the default gateway is normally configured on the network interfaces themselves, this page also supports the configuration of additional static routes.
Routing Configuration
Ping
The Ping utility provides basic network connectivity testing directly from the SvHCI node.
By default the interface selection is set to Any. Selecting a specific interface also enables validation of Jumbo Frames.
When Jumbo Frames are configured correctly the packet size increases to approximately 8972 bytes, allowing administrators to confirm the larger MTU is functioning correctly.
Standard Ping Test
Testing Jumbo Frames
Traceroute
The Traceroute utility assists in determining where network packets may be delayed or dropped.
This is particularly useful when troubleshooting routing issues between SvHCI nodes, such as stretched clusters.
Traceroute Example
It can also be used to verify connectivity to a Witness appliance located on a different network.
Traceroute to Witness
Set Password
The Set Password option enables the node password to be changed from the console.
Enter the current password, then define the new node password.
Change the node password
If the node password is lost, request a reset code from StorMagic Support using the following article:
Power
The Power option enables a clean shutdown or restart of the SvHCI node.
Power options
Upgrade
The Upgrade option enables an SvSAN or SvHCI firmware image to be downloaded from a web server and applied to the node.
Upgrade configuration
Keymap
The Keymap option enables the console keyboard layout to be changed from the default English-UK setting to another available layout.
Change the console keymap
License Key Setup
The License Key Setup option enables a license key to be applied to the node.
The node connects to https://licensing.stormagic.com to associate the license key with the node serial number and retrieve licensed features such as capacity, caching and encryption.
License Key Setup
Offline license files can be applied through the Web GUI for closed environments as detailed below:
Login
Log in to the console using the node password before making protected configuration changes.
Console login
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