Cisco MDS

[abdulhakam]

Hi,

Is anyone familiar with Cisco MDS? For the fiber port, do we need to purchase/install licenses to be operate?

Thank You

[Kasun Bandara]

check below guide. some scenarios, you need license

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/mds9000/sw/9x/configuration/licensing/cisco-mds-9000-nx-os-licensing-guide-9x/m_licensing_cisco_mds_9000_family_nx-os_software_features.html

[abdulhakam]

Thank you for the article

[Bhavin Yadav]

What switch you have? Fabric switches come with base license with some default ports.

[abdulhakam]

Switch MDS 9222i, also I attached the show license result for your reference.

Feature Ins Lic Status Expiry Date Comments
Count
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IOA_184 No 0 Unused -
XRC_ACCL No - Unused -
IOA_9222i No 0 Unused -
IOA_SSN16 No 0 Unused -
DMM_184_PKG No 0 Unused -
DMM_9222i_PKG No 0 Unused -
FM_SERVER_PKG No - Unused -
MAINFRAME_PKG Yes - In use never -
ENTERPRISE_PKG Yes - In use never -
DMM_FOR_SSM_PKG No 0 Unused -
SAN_EXTN_OVER_IP No 0 Unused -
SME_FOR_9222I_PKG No - Unused -
SME_FOR_SSN16_PKG No 0 Unused -
PORT_ACTIVATION_PKG No 0 Unused -
SME_FOR_IPS_184_PKG No 0 Unused -
STORAGE_SERVICES_184 No 0 Unused -
SAN_EXTN_OVER_IP_18_4 No 0 Unused Grace 99D 9H
SAN_EXTN_OVER_IP_IPS2 No 0 Unused -
SAN_EXTN_OVER_IP_IPS4 Yes 1 Unused never -
--More--
SAN_EXTN_OVER_IP_SSN16 No 0 Unused -
STORAGE_SERVICES_9222i No 0 Unused -
STORAGE_SERVICES_SSN16 No 0 Unused -
10G_PORT_ACTIVATION_PKG No 0 Unused -
STORAGE_SERVICES_ENABLER_PKG No 0 Unused -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: SAN Extension license for 9222i base switch is included
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Bhavin Yadav]

MDS 9222i is End of support since 04/30/2020. There is no license available. The default port licensing will be applied as you don’t have any port licenses on the chassis.

[abdulhakam]

Thank You for the response,

1.Let said, if I want to add new storage I only can reuse the current active port ?

2. Can assist me to share where to find the maximum speed supported for the SFP module in this MDS9222i ?

3. Also, currently we try to add new storage as per configuration below, but somehow it not work, that why i looking for the cause either because of SFP compatibility or the license.

vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:10:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0011 dynamic
vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:18:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0012 dynamic
vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:11:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0013 dynamic

TQ

[Bhavin Yadav]

1.Let said, if I want to add new storage I only can reuse the current active port ?
Ans: Yes , you can use all 18 ports @ 1/2/4 G FC speeds. You have to use 4G SFP optics for these ports.
2. Can assist me to share where to find the maximum speed supported for the SFP module in this MDS9222i ?
Ans: it support 1-2-4 G speed using 4G Cisco SFPs.
3. Also, currently we try to add new storage as per configuration below, but somehow it not work, that why i looking for the cause either because of SFP compatibility or the license.
vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:10:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0011 dynamic
vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:18:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0012 dynamic
vsan 1 wwn 50:05:07:63:0b:11:90:b9 fcid 0x2f0013 dynamic
Look at port status:
Switch# show int fc1/1
The output will show you why port is not coming up on 1st line.
sh int fc1/32
fc1/32 is up
Hardware is Fibre Channel, SFP is short wave laser w/o OFC (SN)

OR
sh int fc1/1
fc1/1 is down (SFP not present)

[abdulhakam]

Thank sir, really appreciated your answer.

For the show interface, the result as below :

fc1/12 is down (Link failure or not-connected)
Hardware is Fibre Channel, SFP is short wave laser w/o OFC (SN)
Port WWN is 20:0c:00:2a:6a:ae:e2:80
Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is on
snmp link state traps are enabled
Port vsan is 1
Receive data field Size is 2112
Beacon is turned off
5 minutes input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
5 minutes output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
1 frames input, 228 bytes
0 discards, 0 errors
0 CRC, 0 unknown class
0 too long, 0 too short
1 frames output, 228 bytes
0 discards, 0 errors
0 input OLS, 0 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
0 output OLS, 0 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits

It said link failure or not connected, i not sure if we got compatibility issues with the new storage DS8910F that currently run on 16/32Gb speed. For this waiting update from IBM.

For the physical fibre cable, the cable is ok i can see the red light from both end.

Thank again for your reply. Wishing you success ahead.

[Bhavin Yadav]

It’s a compatibility issue, I believe. Switch only supports up to 4G speed, your storage array supports 16/32G.

[abdulhakam]

Hi,

Its confirmed cause of the compatibility issues. We tried to connect to another switch and then connect the switch to MDS and the connection was detected but it keep in initializing state. Do you familiar with the configuration for the replication in Cisco MDS? Can share any related link ? 

[Bhavin Yadav]

Hello,
Sorry for the delay. Yes, it can be compatibility issue as you are using one of the oldest MDS switch. You can check the interoperability matrix here: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/interoperability/matrix/intmatrx.html

[abdulhakam]

Hi,

For this we try to connect the Storage using an intermediate switch (Brocade as Access Gateway mode) & connect to the MDS.
Do you have any idea or reference ? how to perform this. I believe we need to enable NPIV/NPV feature for both switch & is there any implication for existing config ?

Thank You