Nexus 3172TQ maximum number of vPCs

[aismagilov]

Hi colleagues,

In the Verified Scalability Guide for 6.x I've seen the following numbers, which are kind of confusing:

EtherChannel Members	24	24
Number of switch port EtherChannels	10	10

Could you tell, please, does the "Number of switch port EtherChannels" mean the maximum number of EtherChannels that can be configured on this type of switch?

If yes, does it mean, in turn, that the maximum number of vPCs supported is also "10"?

I'm asking because 10 EtherChannels is a pretty weird for a 48-port switch. For example, the 3750-X supports up to 48 EtherChannels...

[Steve Fuller]

Hi,

The numbers shown in the Verified Scalability Guide are those that have been tested and verified by Cisco. They are not necessarily the absolute maximum for the platform or feature.

If you notice there's a foot note to table that states:

Indicates the maximum scale capability tested for the corresponding feature individually. This number is the absolute maximum currently supported for the corresponding feature. If the hardware is capable of a higher scale, future software releases may increase this verified maximum limit.

The last sentence indicates that the number may be increased at some later stage after further testing.

Regards

[aismagilov]

Hi Steve,

Thank you for the reply!

But, am I understanding this right - the current maximum that 3172TQ supports is 10 Port-Channels per chassis (thus, 10 vPCs per chassis)?

Of course there's a probability that they'll increase this number after further testing...but there's also a probability that they won't :)

P.S: nexus 3100 is based on a merchant silicon...maybe that's some hw platform limitation, who knows?

[aismagilov]

So, Steve, please, could you either confirm my fears, or dispel them? :)

[Steve Fuller · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I don't think the fact the Cisco Nexus 3172 uses merchant silicon (Broadcom Trident II) is going to impose such limitations as we see much higher limits on other Cisco products based on TII. For example the Nexus 3164Q Verified Scalability Limits shows 32 port-channels and 60 vPCs.

Also if you look at Table 6 Specifications in the Cisco Nexus 3172PQ and 3172TQ Switches Data Sheet, Cisco actually quote 64 EtherChannels (with vPC) and 32 ports per EtherChannel.

I'd say the data sheet states the maximum and those in the scalability guide are simply what's been verified to date.

Note that I can only say this based on the Cisco documentation as I've not personally tested this. I'm not sure it helps to confirm or dispel your fears, but hopefully of some use :-)

Regards

[aismagilov]

Thank you!

I've read the data sheet, but somehow missed the amount of etherchannels (several times, meh...).

I'll test this in a next couple of months, and write here about the results (probably I won't be able to get all 64 up and running, but definitely it will be more than 10 ;)).

[onyXMaster]

 I have a similar problem, could you please share the outcome?