# Prerequisites

The following requirements must be met to deploy and configure the HPE Aruba CX DSS Network plugin in VM Essentials

- Aruba CX 10000 series switches

  - At least two Aruba CX 10000 switches are configured
  - VSX and KeepAlive are configured
  - Switches are connected to the upstream network
- Pre-existing HVM cluster

  - Ensure all hosts within the HVM cluster are physically connected to the CX 10000 switches for optimal network integration and redundancy
- VM Essentials appliance version 8.0.6 or higher

  - AFC and PSM are deployed and reachable from the VM Essentials manager
- Aruba Fabric Composer (AFC) version 7.2 or higher, deployed as a VM
- AMD Pensando PSM (Policy and Services Manager), deployed as a VM

NOTE

- Download AFC and PSM from the [HPE Networking Support portal](https://networkingsupport.hpe.com/downloads/software/RmlsZTo0YzQ2MzIyYS0xOTU2LTExZjAtYTMzNS0yZmRkN2QyMjdhOTY%253D)
- For more information on deploying AFC and PSM, refer to the official documentation
- The AFC and PSM must have network connectivity to the CX 10000 switches
- Making full use of the VM Essentials Aruba CX 10000 integration requires credentials for AFC with API access granted and read/write access to AFC configuration
