Nexus 93180YC-FX Fiber channel support

[Alexander Pickar]

Hi Community,

Does the Nexus 93180YC-FX NX-OS switch already support Fiber Channel interfaces?

- The datasheet says, that the downlink ports are FC capable

- The NX-OS configuration guide does not mention Fiber Channel interface configuration, only FCoE configuration chapter is included.

- Also the release notes only mentions FCoE config.

What Fiber Channel SFP transceivers are currently supported?

Regards,

Alexander Pickar

[vladani]

Hi Walter,

Does this mean we can do the zoning as on MDS or 5K switch in NPIV mode? or this is still a proxy switch (NPV)?

Also regarding the speed it says here it supports 8G FC port??

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/switches/nexus-93180yc-fx-switch/model.html#~tab-specs

Can you please clarify?

BR
Vlad

[jvenzhof]

Hi Vlad.

Yes, that is exactly what it means. Since NX-OS 9.3(3) Nexus 93180YC-FX supports not only NPV mode but also the full FC/FCoE switching functions. For the list of supported N9K HW in the latest NX-OS please see https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/103x/configuration/san-switching/cisco-nexus-9000-series-nx-os-san-switching-configuration-guide-release-103x/m-hardware-support.html

Regarding speeds you can actually go as low as 4Gbps. But please bear in mind, that at 8G there is only the E mode (ISL) supported: https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/?dr=467&dr=468&dr=121&npid=44

I hope this clears your question.

Regards, Pepa

[vladani]

tnx for clarification Pepa.

just to be sure on 8G port, you mean E as Ethernet ISL (trunk encap)? So only 16 and 32G FC native port supported?

Much appricaite for your help Pepa.

BR
V

[jvenzhof]

With native FC 8G only FC ISL is supported (switchport mode e) so only other FC switch can be connected here.
16 and 32G supports all port modes (including F-port mode not supported at 8G speed) so you can attach anything you need.

I hope it is clear now

Pepa

[vladani]

Much appreciate for clarification Pepa!

[maoliver]

Interesting bit of info on the second to last slide here:

https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/global/da_dk/assets/training/seminaria-materials/Nexus.pdf

Shows that the roadmap is for the 93180YC-FX in NX-OS mode is to support 16GB FC Switch mode in the second half of 2018 and 32GB FC Switch mode in first half 2019. 

[gnijs]

Interesting topic ! And indeed, very confusing documentation !

So to be short: The 93180YC-FX supports enterprise routing and today native FC in NPV mode in NX-OS mode and up to 8 Gbps (not yet 16 Gbps FC, seems to come later). I only seek support for NPV mode, also to replace 5548UP switches (no need for full blown native FC).

The only problem with the FX is that is doesn't support many FEX modules, according to

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/hw/interoperability/fexmatrix/fextables.html

The EX supports many more FEX, but is 25GE pre-standard.
The EX doesn't support native FC ports, so no NPV mode, so no option in fact.

regards,

Geert

[Markus Dommer]

Are there any news about NPIV Support on Uplink Ports. Is this on the Roadmap for upcomming Releases?

Regards Markus

[VNi]

FC switching is supported now on N9K-C93180YC-FX.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/dcn/nx-os/nexus9000/103x/configuration/san-switching/cisco-nexus-9000-series-nx-os-san-switching-configuration-guide-release-103x/m-configuring-fcoe.html