NSX

Avi Network: Base Configuration via API

June 19, 2020 Chris Noon 3

API Reference. I wrote a post a few weeks back on how to get an Avi proof of concept up and running. Hopefully, it helped and continues to help others wanting to start playing with Avi. I like to spin my lab up and down, pushing config when needed. This post will be focused around the Avi APIs and how to stand up the basic configuration previously discussed. I used the Avi API guide for reference:https://avinetworks.com/docs/latest/ Alternatively, you can navigate to:https://[Avi Controller IP]/api At this stage, I will assume at least 1 or 3 Controller(s) has been deployed, a logical cloud has been created along with the relevant networks for Avi consumption. Disclaimer. I will be providing the bare minimum […]

Avi Networks: Base Configuration

May 24, 2020 Chris Noon 1

Load Balancing. I covered Avi Networks at a high level in my first post. I now want to dive into the base configuration of Avi and at its core, it is a Load Balancer. Saying that there are a few flavours of Load Balancing. Layer 4 Load Balancing. – Focusing on the IP address and TCP port.Layer 7 Load Balancing. – Focusing on layer 7 attributes such as HTTP headers.Global Server Load Balancing. – Adopting the layer 4 and layer 7 concepts to balance applications across geographical regions. While running through the base configuration I will be focusing on layer 4. While layer 7 and GSLB is something I eventually want to play with it will be further down the […]

Avi Networks: The Advanced NSX Load Balancer.

May 9, 2020 Chris Noon 2

What is Avi? Avi Networks provides software-defined Load Balancing at its core. Complementing the core service is a plethora of mouthwatering services and features. Surely the reason Avi was acquired by VMware on July 11th 2019. Rebranded as the NSX Advanced Load Balancer. Some of the features include application analytics, predictive autoscaling, micro-segmentation and WAF (Web Application Firewall) all this and on both cloud and on-prem. The Load Balancer for any platform! After reading this, if you like the look of Avi and want a demo or PoC, reach out to the team at https://avinetworks.com/. The components. Avi builds its components in a similar way to other VMware products. A management, control and data plane. The logical separation of components […]

VCDX-NV – Defence Scenario

March 20, 2020 Chris Noon 2

Due to the virus outbreak, my VCDX defence has been postponed until the next window, which is June. The VCDX board decided, understandably, to keep their panellists and applicants as safe as possible. That said, I thought I’d continue the blogging trend and discuss another area of preparation. Still excited as 3 months will fly by! I’ve discussed the document and design defence. Now let’s look at the defence scenario. What is the Defence Scenario? The defence scenario is 1 of 2 defences I will have to complete to successfully become a VCDX. The first task is the design defence, which I’ve spoken about here. The second is the defence scenario. This is a 45-minute window where my 3 panellists […]

HCX Migrations using L2 Ext Legacy Complexities #L2VPN #HCX #VCF

March 16, 2020 Bilal Ahmed 5

Lay of the land I have been working with a customer and came across something interesting. Most people when configuring 2 vCenters don’t share VLANs between the 2, with management networks being the exception. But here we had a VLAN in 2 vCenters which needed to be migrated to our new VCF site. This new site would utilise NSX-v to terminate the default gateway. I think this is best shown in a diagram: For some unknown reason, a decision was made to separate out the Windows and Linux workloads into 2 vCenters but use the same VLAN. Sometimes you can come back and visit a decision you made previously with fresh eyes and new info and realise it wasn’t the […]

VCDX-NV – Design Defence

February 20, 2020 Chris Noon 3

I am waiting to hear back on my defence invite, but am preparing like I’ve been invited.  Solid advice any VCDX will give you. The design defence is an invitation to Palo Alto, Staines or Sydney to defend your design and run through a scenario.  In today’s blog, I am going to talk about my experience when preparing for the design defence. The design defence is you defending your submitted design.  This is a 75-minute window for you to present your submitted project and defend your design choices.  While it’s a 75-minute window, its recommended you prepare a c15-minute presentation.  The other 60 minutes will be used by the panellists to ask questions about anything relating to the submitted design. […]

VCDX-NV – Document Submission

January 20, 2020 Chris Noon 3

To start my blogging career, I thought I would talk about my VCDX-NV journey. I’m currently in the waiting stage after submitting my documents.  Waiting for a VCDX panel to determine if my documentation warrants an invite to defend. Whilst waiting, I thought I’d take this time to share some advice that I found useful on my journey.  Firstly, read and understand the blueprint this can’t be stressed enough.  During your journey; you will find all VCDXs repeat this phrase to you, and it’s true.  The closer you get to the submission date the more the blueprint resonates. Read the submission document.  I read this at the very end, but I wish I had read it a few months before.  […]

Passing the VCP-NV 2019 NSX-T 2.4 2V0-41.19 exam #NSX #vExpertNSX #vExpert

September 9, 2019 Bilal Ahmed 0

So as many of you will know, I am pretty savvy when it comes to DCV but when it comes to networking in general and especially networking virtualization…I am a rookie. I missed the NSX-V train, it passed me by while I was working on other things and with NSX-T being quite new…I thought now is as good of a time as any to get on board! Networking has always been a weak point of mine, and my goal is to change that. I don’t intend to become the next CCIE or anything like that, but I want to become a more rounded consultant and just have a good solid level of understanding in different areas. I booked myself on […]