Before starting the Foundation process, the consultant should prepare the network by:
* On Nutanix NX Series, connect the IPMI port and any one of the data ports to the switch: This ensures that the IPMI (for management and remote access) and at least one data port (for cluster communication and data traffic) are connected and operational, facilitating a smooth foundation process.
References:
* Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), especially sections on initial hardware setup and network preparations.
* Nutanix Hardware Setup Guide from Nutanix University (https://university.nutanix.com), detailing the specific steps for networking configurations during initial setup.