Catalyst 6509 VSS - Replace SUP720 to SUP2T

[g8104]

Hi all,

we've got a problem on our CAT6509 VSS-pair. The CPU-load is quite high(sometimes about 100%), so we decided to upgrade to Supervisor VS-S2T-10G-XL.

The CAT6509 are running in VSS-mode and are the distribution of our virtualization serverfarm. Connected are Nexus5k with Vblock-Infrastructure behind. Due to high amount of virtual systems, the load gets bigger and bigger. To not have performance problems, we'd like to upgrade to a more powerful Supervisor-Engine, which is the Sup2T.

It's the first time, we have to change a supervisor-engine in a VSS - pair. Furthermore, we have to upgrade to another hardware-model.

May you please give me some advices, what we have to take care about and how an upgrade-procedure would look like? Just replacing the SUP in the standby-device, boot it and afterwards do the same with the active one? (Sounds too easy for me ;-) )?

Thanks a lot and best regards,

Sebastian

[Joseph W. Doherty · Accepted solution]

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Posting

If I remember correctly, the VS-S720 is rated at 45 Mpps and the Sup2T is rated at 60 Mpps, so you would only increase your sup's Mpps by about 33%.

Before jumping to a sup2T, I wonder if you've fully analyzed your high CPU utilization.

Is you chassis running in fabric mode now?

Do your line cards have DFCs?

Is much of your CPU usage non-interrupt?

[g8104]

Ja, good questions:

1.) What do you mean with "fabric mode"?

The switches running in redundancy mode sso. And the "fabric state" on both sites is "Active". Control plane state on one site is "active" on the other its "standby. Did that answer your question? Sorry for not being totally aware.

2.) DFC:

In each switch we have four line-cards for connection of the Layer-2-access-switches. Two times WS-X6704-10GE with CFC and two times WS-X6708-10GE with DFC3C. (Additional the SUP720 and a WS-S6724-SFP for management-connections.)

3. non-interrupt CPU usage

How can I figure out, if my CPU-usage is nun-interrupted and what does it tell me?

Thanks a lot for your time and answers!!!

Sebastian

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Disclaimer

The Author of this posting offers the information contained within this posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose. Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

Liability Disclaimer

In no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising out of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if Author has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

"Fabric mode" is probably better explained if you search for the term on Cisco's main web site, but if all your line cards are 67xx series, you should be running in that mode.

Hmm, if I remember correctly the 6708's cannot be used by the sup2T because you need DFC4s, and you cannot change/upgrade DFCs on a 6708.  Also for sup2Ts, your 6704s and 6724 will work with a CFC or DFC4.  (However, part of your existing performance issue might be mitigated by adding DFCs to some or all your 67xx line cards with CFCs.)

Show process CPU (optionally sorted) will show your total CPU, process CPU and interrupt CPU.  (Cisco's main web site has documentation explaining the show process CPU command, and there's also whitepapers to help troubleshoot high CPU.)