Well, it’s March the 4th I’m not sure whether it still counts as the “new” year – are we properly into the year its lost its new-ness? Anyway, the new March has ushered in a new product landing page for EVO:RAIL. It’s been redesigned by our new PMM (that’s Product Marketing Manager for those who have abbreviations). And I think its clearer to navigate around and there more things on the main LZ that should stop people going round and round in circles looking for stuff.
We have a new look and improved data sheet (for people who get off on data sheets), of more interest to use technically minded are two new docs on the site called “Network User Guide” and “Setup and Network Configuration Cards”. These have been written by my colleague, Judy Snow who is based in Palo Alto. Judy is force to be reckoned with as her attention and puts my slapdash blogging to shame – riddled as it is with spelling and grammar errors – and the odd split infinitive…
Anyway, you will find the new docs in the “Resource” tab…
The Setup and Network Configuration Cards are essentially checklist – The first is very high-level and covers the hardware and software requirements for EVO:RAIL. I imagine many of our SEs and Qualified EVO:RAIL SE will use these with PoC engagements – as way of confirming that everything is in place before arriving on site. The second check list (within the same doc) is a Table that allows you to collect all the host, IP and settings data that is used to complete the configuration of EVO:RAIL. You’d be surprised how often when you ask folks what IP address network pool for management – how someone has to go off to consult a spreadsheet that was last edited in 2007 (shocking, wrong on some many levels – but it happens).
The other document is even of greater interest is called the Network User Guide. It incorporates the Setup and Network Configuration Cards (for ease of printing) but then goes on to discuss the networking requirements. This covers scenarios and requirement such as:
- Multiple Switch and ISL configuration
- IPv4/6 Multicast settings
- VLAN including configuring EVO:RAIL to use VLAN Tagging for the management network
For the most part so long as you get your networking ducks in a row, your experience will be fine. And the requirements are well-known and well documented. Of course, our industry is riddled with folks who never RTFM. As you might recall that was the old site name of my blog. In the next blog about EVO:RAIL I will be investigating these prerequisites and talk about diagnostic tests you can do in case you encounter issues by not configuring the network correctly.
Finally (some blowing of my own trumpet here), the resource page also links to the all-new EVO:RAIL Hands-on-Lab which debuted at PEX – which now shows adding a 2nd appliance, some patch mangement and how to replace a failed node inside the EVO:RAIL.