A customer has reviewed the latest vSphere CVD and asks you if they can use their older Cisco servers in the new FlexPod solution and still have…

FlexPod support is not rigidly confined to the exact bill of materials within a specific Cisco Validated Design (CVD) or NetApp Verified Architecture (NVA). The foundation of the FlexPod cooperative support model is the use of components that are mutually qualified and listed in the official compatibility matrices of the partner vendors. Therefore, a customer can use older Cisco servers, provided those servers are listed as compatible with the specific NetApp storage, network components, and software versions (e.g., ONTAP, UCS Firmware, vSphere) in the NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool (IMT), the Cisco UCS Hardware and Software Compatibility List, and the VMware Compatibility Guide.

B. Following a specific Cisco Validated Design is a guaranteed way to have a supported configuration, but it is not the only way. The compatibility matrices provide greater flexibility.

C. FlexPod is a defined architecture using specific, qualified components from NetApp and Cisco. Support is not extended to configurations using arbitrary or unverified equipment.

D. A NetApp Verified Architecture (NVA) defines a supported configuration, but it is not the only standard. CVDs are also primary validation documents, and overall support is governed by the compatibility matrices.

1. NetApp Technical Report TR-4878, "FlexPod Datacenter Design and Deployment Guide": In the "Introduction" section, it states, "The FlexPod solution is a validated architecture. The individual components of the solution are supported by the component vendor. To make sure that you have a valid and supported configuration, you must validate that your configuration is supported by the NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool, the Cisco UCS Hardware and Software Compatibility List, and the VMware Compatibility Guide." This confirms that support is based on the compatibility matrices, not just a single design document.

2. Cisco Validated Design, "FlexPod Datacenter with VMware vSphere 7.0U1, Cisco UCS 4th Generation, and NetApp AFF A-Series Design Guide": The "Solution Support" section in the introduction clarifies, "To ensure that you have a valid and supported configuration, you must validate that your configuration is supported by the NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool, the Cisco UCS Hardware and Software Compatibility List, and the VMware Compatibility Guide." This directly supports the principle that adherence to compatibility tools is the key to a supported configuration.

3. NetApp Solution Brief, "FlexPod Cooperative Support" (SB-3875-0318): This document outlines the support model and emphasizes the importance of using validated components. It states, "The FlexPod solution is a validated architecture... To ensure that you have a valid and supported configuration, you must validate that your configuration is supported by the NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool, the Cisco UCS Hardware and Software Compatibility List, and the VMware Compatibility Guide." This reinforces that the matrices are the definitive source for support validation.