Is it possible to run FCoE on 6509/2960/3750..etc switch

[Wai Nam Mao]

As i understanding, FCoE : encapsulated FC in Ethernet packet

so that FCoE packet is same as Ethernet packet

If  this is rigth, is it mean that i can transfer FCoE packet through normal switch instead of Nexus?

[Vu Phan]

Hello Wai,

The answer is no.  C6509/2960/3750 were not design to run FCOE.  Only N7K/N5K/MDS products do.

[Wai Nam Mao]

How about this

[Server] ---- [Nexus N5K] -------- [6509] --------- [2960] -----------[6509] --------- [Nexus N5K] ------------- [Storage]

[Daniel Ananthan]

Hi,

If is to Do the Below what is the Switch to select.

Server -----FC-----(Cisco Switch)-----FC----Storage

    |------------------------------|

 |

LAN

[Walter Dey]

Hi Daniel

If your switch needs classical FC and Ethernet, Nexus 5k is the solution.

[Leo Laohoo]

FCoE/FC is the exclusive domain of the Nexus-series and MDS-series of switches.

[Wai Nam Mao]

If FCOE is really encapsulated in ethernet packet

why 6509/3750/2960 cannot run such packet?

as i know FCOE is a Jumbo frame

[vsathiam · Accepted solution]

Its true that from Ethernet perspective, FCoE is just another Upper layer Protocol. ( Ethertype 0x8906 denoting FCoE, Ethertype 0x8914 denoting FCoE Initializing Protocol). Important thing to note is FCoE requires the underlying Ethernet network to be lossless (+ ability to support jumbo frames) . Enhancements to Ethernet had to be made to support this requirement (

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns340/ns517/ns224/ns783/at_a_glance_c45-460907.pdf

). Hence, your topology would not work as of today.

[Wai Nam Mao]

Oh, please correct me if i am wrong

my topology will not work because we cannot built a lossless network with 6500/3750/2960 series switch, as a result, running FCoE on such devices will cause the FCoE not work because of packet loss, so we need Nexus environment

If I use all Nesux on my network, it will be fine, right?

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

That's correct.  If you want looseless network for your SANs, Nexus is the way to go.

Nexus 7K for your core and distro, 6K (40 Gbps) or 5K (10 Gbps) as your access and 2K for your top-of-rack.