Deployment Guide

Introduction

Topics:

• Document overview

• Audience and scope

• Known issues

Document overview

This deployment guide provides an overview of Dell EMC Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI, guidance on how to integrate solution

components, and instructions for preparing and deploying the solution infrastructure.

For end-to-end deployment steps, use the information in this guide in conjunction with the information in Network Configuration and Host

Configuration Options.

This guide applies only to infrastructure that is built by using the validated and certified Dell EMC AX nodes and Microsoft Windows Server

2016 or Windows Server 2019.

Audience and scope

The audience for this document includes systems engineers, field consultants, partner engineering team members, and customers with

knowledge about deploying hyperconverged infrastructures (HCIs) with Microsoft Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019 Hyper-

V and Storage Spaces Direct. Customers who do not have Volume License agreements with Microsoft can order AX nodes from Dell with

a factory-installed operating system and OEM license or as bare metal.

The Azure Stack HCI cluster can be deployed in either of the following ways:

• Dell EMC Services led—Certified deployment engineers ensure accuracy, speed, and reduced risk and downtime.

• Customer led—Customers who have the qualified level of technical expertise follow the instructions in this guide.

NOTE:

Instructions in this deployment guide are applicable only to:

• The generally available (GA) operating system build of Windows Server 2016 with the latest applicable updates

• Windows Server 2019 GA build with the latest operating system updates

These instructions are not validated with Windows Server version 1709. Dell EMC AX nodes do not support the Windows

Server Semi-Annual Channel release. Dell Technologies recommends that you update the host operating system with

the latest cumulative updates from Microsoft before starting the Azure Stack HCI cluster creation and configuration

tasks.

Assumptions

This guide assumes that deployment personnel have knowledge of the following concepts and tasks:

• Dell EMC AX nodes and deploying and configuring BIOS and integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) settings

• Deploying and configuring Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019 Hyper-V infrastructure

Known issues

Before starting the cluster deployment, review the known issues and workarounds.

For information about known issues and workarounds, see https://www.dell.com/support/article/sln313305.

Introduction 5