First up:

Configuring Network Switches. Have two new power connect 6248’s (the 6224’s big brother)

So I’m looking all over for some config guides. And then holy smokes those EqualLogic/Dell peeps where listening to us

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/storage/w/wiki/3615.rapid-equallogic-configuration-portal-by-sis.aspx

Rapid EqualLogic Configuration Portal by SIS

So all I have to do is click on relevant guides. Ok that is awesome

Here it goes

So I downloaded and installed ESXi 5.1 and awesomely enough it looks like the 10GB Intel cards are automagically detected.

Next need to get the switches up to current firmware so go to support.dell.com and then poke until I got to here

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/555/Product/powerconnect-6248

um this  Download Manager (Akamai Net Session) is a pain in the butt….

Ok, finding the right doc for the 6200 is still a pain this link looks good though

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/network/pc62xx/en/index.htm

Ok, got the switch up and going with an IP, flow control on, portfast configured, and stacked using the Rapid EqualLogic configuration series doc.

Now to update the firmware…. hmmm so it appears I need either a TFTP server or web server setup… that is kindof strange oh well I’m downloading a copy of xampp-portable to server the file and see if that will work.

Ok on second thought solar winds tftp was ridiculously easy to setup and use. Then I just uploaded the firmware using the console commands and the doc that came with the new firmware.

Anyways, the below is where I will be living for a while….