Dell VRTX questions

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jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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So I recently picked up a Dell VRTX chassis with two M620 blades in it.
I can't seem to find a firm answer regarding if I am able to put M640 blades into this chassis or if I need a newer model of the VRTX chassis (if there is such a thing?)
I have updated all firmware to the latest versions available.
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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Awesome, thank you for replying.
Looks like I got a really good deal then, the chassis also has the 10gbit external interface as well.
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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You verified that your chassis came with midplane ?
The VRTX system came complete, was decomissioned because warranty had expired and one of the blade had a failed iDRAC firmware update that "bricked it".
Updated the chassis management controller firmware to 3.4 and was able to see the iDRAC and was able to update the iDRAC firmware on it and bring it up to a fully functional state again.
It came with the following:
10gbit switch and external module
2x m620 blades with 2x e5 2640 128gb ram and 2x 146gb 10k drives
10x 900gb 10k, 5x 900gb 15k
4x 1100w power supplies
 

frogtech

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2016
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The VRTX system came complete, was decomissioned because warranty had expired and one of the blade had a failed iDRAC firmware update that "bricked it".
Updated the chassis management controller firmware to 3.4 and was able to see the iDRAC and was able to update the iDRAC firmware on it and bring it up to a fully functional state again.
It came with the following:
10gbit switch and external module
2x m620 blades with 2x e5 2640 128gb ram and 2x 146gb 10k drives
10x 900gb 10k, 5x 900gb 15k
4x 1100w power supplies
Ebay special?
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
19
3
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Ebay special?
nope, picked it up from a client who had retired it because a blade had failed from the firmware update, it had been sitting in their storeroom for a year or two. Just a case of the right time at the right price
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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it happily connected to the XSM7224S - 24-Port 10G SFP+ Layer 2 Stackable Managed Switch with four 10G combo ports via DAC
My lab is fully 10gbit
The lab has cost me about AU$3500
 

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frogtech

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Jan 4, 2016
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it happily connected to the XSM7224S - 24-Port 10G SFP+ Layer 2 Stackable Managed Switch with four 10G combo ports via DAC
My lab is fully 10gbit
The lab has cost me about AU$3500
Nice switch, does it have a web UI? It looks to be a L2+ switch, can you do routing and IP addressing with it at the interface level that you know of?

Also is that an EqualLogic above your VRTX?
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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Nice switch, does it have a web UI? It looks to be a L2+ switch, can you do routing and IP addressing with it at the interface level that you know of?

Also is that an EqualLogic above your VRTX?
From top to bottom:
2x R640 - 2x Xeon Gold 6144, 192GB ram
1x R740 - 2x Xeon Silver 4110, 64GB ram
1x Ryzen 2700x 48Gb Ram
1x Compellent SCv3020 (8x 480gb ssd, 12x 1.8tb 10k rpm)
1x VRTX (specs already mentioned above)

Web interface I havent dug into much beyond the vlanning that I needed (very basic trunk for uplink, all other ports tagging all vlans plus untagged default vlan), see the attached screenshot.
If I wanted to do some routing etc. I would pick up another switch from the usual suspects (mikrotik if im feeling cheap... which I probably am lol, or cisco or hp if im feeling flush with cash)
 

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frogtech

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Jan 4, 2016
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Do you happen to have a way to obtain equallogic PS4100 firmware since you have a compellent?

Also thanks for the screenshot. I'm a sucker for a nice web UI.
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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Do you happen to have a way to obtain equallogic PS4100 firmware since you have a compellent?

Also thanks for the screenshot. I'm a sucker for a nice web UI.
Its not really what I would call a "nice" web UI, but it works well enough.

Compellent =/= Equallogic. the support for the SCv3020 is directly through dell.
Unfortunately I do not have any access to firmware for the PS4100 (I have one of those too), they refuse to provide support at all, they tell me I don't have an active support agreement with them so they cant support me, but refuse to let me get a support agreement with them as well.
Frankly some of the worst customer support and service ive ever received and I will not be recommending or selling any product that uses the Equallogic support team personally after my experience.
 

frogtech

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Jan 4, 2016
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The company and their products are basically dead/obsolete anyway, though it is cool to have one. I got a good deal on a PS4100 that was working loaded with drives. Granted, they're still spinning metal, but still.

How much did you get your 3020 for? I like the idea of getting a product that is directly supported by Dell since getting downloads and documentation is easier, but I think the Compellent stuff is a bit less prevalent in the liquidation space so they're still up there in price on fleabay.

I may need to 'swap' the PS4100 out for a MD3200 series at some point.
 

jmannik

New Member
Jun 15, 2021
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I got 2x R640 1x R740 1x SCv3020 and the PS4000 (misidentified it previously) for AU$2200 which is far far far below going price.Varying factors why and how that I cant go into besides "right time, right place and knowing the right person when a company completely restructured" reasons (eg. I got it for mates rates because they just wanted the equipment out of their storage unit)