Solved: Nexus 7k with N2K-2232TM-E

adrianoden · ‎08-20-2013

Given that there aren't many difference between the TM and TM-E Switches https://supportforums.cisco.com/thread/2210652 . Can someone confirm if the TM-E is a supported FEX switch with Nexus 7k M1 or M2 Line Cards. Also Curious if dual connected FEX is supported in N7k and if not is it roadmaped?

Steve Fuller · ‎08-21-2013

Hi Adrian,

The N2K-2232TM-E is not supported in the Nexus 7000 at this stage. You'll see it's not currently shown in the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series NX-OS Release Notes, Release 6.1 as a supported FEX model.

The last I've found from Cisco on this is in a Community document Nexus 2232TM VS 2232TM-E dated June 2013:

At this current stage, 2232TM-E is supported with N5K as parent switch only. The target support for Nexus 2232TM-E with N7K as parent switch is in 1HCY13 with Freetown release.

The Nexus 7000 Freetown release is NX-OS 6.2, which as I understand it, should be available before the end of August 2013 so hopefully not too long to wait before support can be confirmed.

In terms of Nexus 7000 and dual attached FEX, this is still not supported, though is planned to be added at some stage. I guess Cisco haven't prioritised this as a feature in the Nexus 7K as it doesn't offer too much. As was discussed in forum post Nexus 7000 and 2000. Is FEX supported with vPC, dual-homing a FEX to Nexus 7000 offers no additional resilience as, in contrast to the Nexus 5000 or Nexus 6000, the Nexus 7000 is a highly resilient platform. The Nexus 7000 has no single point of failure (resilient SE, fabric, I/O and power) and as such has a higher availability than the FEX itself.

Regards

View solution in original post

Steve Fuller · ‎08-21-2013

Hi Adrian,

The N2K-2232TM-E is not supported in the Nexus 7000 at this stage. You'll see it's not currently shown in the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series NX-OS Release Notes, Release 6.1 as a supported FEX model.

The last I've found from Cisco on this is in a Community document Nexus 2232TM VS 2232TM-E dated June 2013:

At this current stage, 2232TM-E is supported with N5K as parent switch only. The target support for Nexus 2232TM-E with N7K as parent switch is in 1HCY13 with Freetown release.

The Nexus 7000 Freetown release is NX-OS 6.2, which as I understand it, should be available before the end of August 2013 so hopefully not too long to wait before support can be confirmed.

In terms of Nexus 7000 and dual attached FEX, this is still not supported, though is planned to be added at some stage. I guess Cisco haven't prioritised this as a feature in the Nexus 7K as it doesn't offer too much. As was discussed in forum post Nexus 7000 and 2000. Is FEX supported with vPC, dual-homing a FEX to Nexus 7000 offers no additional resilience as, in contrast to the Nexus 5000 or Nexus 6000, the Nexus 7000 is a highly resilient platform. The Nexus 7000 has no single point of failure (resilient SE, fabric, I/O and power) and as such has a higher availability than the FEX itself.

Regards