using a fabric port from Leafs to connect to an external switch

[SandevChopra07800]

Hi, We have a requirement to connect to an external switch from every leaf for SPAN purposes. As a result, it needs to be a 100 Gbps port, which are only the uplink/fabric ports. Can those ports be used?

[Robert Burns · Accepted solution]

Depending on the platform - typically yes.  You can "convert" unused uplinks to downlinks.  The proces is well documented.

BTW - why do you need every leaf connected?   A single SPAN port can be used to send any traffic from anywhere in the fabric.  If you're trying to create more of an inline TAP, that's another story.

Robert

[SandevChopra07800]

If using a single span port, then the other leafs are going to be sending span traffic over the spine-uplinks. Idea is to avoid that, hence better to connect every leaf locally. 

[Robert Burns]

Agree, but that's where a proper SPAN filter comes into play so you can filter only the traffic of interest.  Are you trying to SPAN all traffic continuously or just specific EPG/host traffic on demand?  Is the traffic going to a monitoring solution (ex. Splunk)?

Robert

[SandevChopra07800]

all traffic all the time..