Users Guide

Overview of OMNI, SFS, VxRail, and
PowerEdge MX
This section provides an overview of Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration (OMNI), SmartFabric Services (SFS), and
integration of SFS with VxRail and PowerEdge MX.
SmartFabric Services
SmartFabric Services (SFS) is an automation framework that is built into Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10, to integrate converged
and hyperconverged infrastructure systems. These solutions deliver autonomous fabric deployment, expansion, and life cycle
management.
SFS enables converged infrastructure (CI) and hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) for system administrators to deploy and
operate the network fabric for the infrastructure solution as an extension of the solution being deployed. This integrated
network fabric is built using industry-standard protocols adhering to the best practice recommendations for that solution, and is
interoperable with existing data center networks deployment.
There are two types of SFS:
1. SFS for Leaf and Spine – supported on selected Dell EMC S-series and Z-series PowerSwitches.
2. SFS for PowerEdge MX – supported on PowerEdge MX switches.
For more information regarding supported switches, see SmartFabric OS10 Support Matrix.
For more information about SFS initial setup for leaf and spine, enable SFS, creating fabric settings, SFS personalities, and
solution-specific details, see Dell EMC SmartFabric Services User Guide available in SmartFabric OS Product page.
OpenManage Network Integration
Dell EMC OpenManage Network Integration (OMNI) is a management application that is designed to complement SFS, providing
a web-based UI for operating one or more automated network fabrics deployed using SFS (called SmartFabric instances).
OMNI is delivered as a virtual appliance which can be deployed as:
● A stand-alone virtual machine enabling a web portal to manage one or more SmartFabric Instances
● An external plug-in for VMware vCenter. When deployed as a plug-in for VMware vCenter, OMNI enables:
○ Zero-touch automation of physical underlay network fabric running SFS corresponding to changes in the virtual network
layer
○ Extension of vCenter Host Network Inventory data to include physical switch connectivity details for easy monitoring and
troubleshooting
○ A single pane of management for one or more SmartFabric instances through the OMNI portal pages that are embedded
within vCenter
VxRail SFS integration
Dell EMC VxRail integrated with SFS automates and simplifies networking for VxRail hyperconverged infrastructure deployments
and ongoing network operations. As hyperconverged domains scale, the network fabric becomes the critical piece of successful
deployment. VxRail integration with SFS allows customers to deploy network fabrics for VxRail clusters as an extension of the
VxRail clusters without extensive networking knowledge. The network fabric is automatically configured for the VxRail nodes as
the operators deploy their VxRail clusters.
Key benefits
● Faster time to production
○ Plug and play fabric formation for VxRail.
3
10 Overview of OMNI, SFS, VxRail, and PowerEdge MX