Nexus 7000 and Dell 6224 Power Connect switch

[Rosa Ladeira]

I am trying the connection above using 10G spf connectors.

Is there any special configuration in order to have a trunk (with 2 disctinct vlans) betwen NX7000 and DELL 6224 ?

[jiwuertz]

The commands to configure a trunk on the Nexus 7000 are as follows for interface ethernet 2/1:

switch(config)# interface ethernet 2/1

switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk

The native vlan is 1 by default, but to change the native vlan use the following command to change to vlan 2:

switch(config-if)# switchport trunk native vlan 2

By default all vlans are allowed on the trunk.  If you want to restrict which vlans are allowed on the trunk use the following command to allow vlans 2-10:

switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 2-10

[Jerry Ye]

On top of Jim's response. Here is my question: What STP protocol is the Dell using? MST? RSTP?

If you are using RSTP on the Dell, you have to allow VLAN 1 from the trunk because Cisco switches use PVST+RSTP but switches like Dell will use CST RSTP. The CST switches will use VLAN 1 to send and receive control traffic.

Regards,

jerry

[Rosa Ladeira]

My first test:

1. I have started with ethernet ports on booth sides;

2. I have created a vlan  id=6 on Dell;

    configure

      vlan database

      vlan 6

      exit

3. DELL 6224 port config

    configure

    interface ethernet 1/g1

    switchport general allowed vlan add 6

    exit

4. NEXUS 7000 is running Server VTP Operating Mode, VTP V2 Mode

   interface Vlan6

  no shutdown

  description vlan test

  ip access-group vlan199_access_in in

  ip access-group vlan6_access_out out

  ip address 17.35.6.200/24

4. NEXUS 7000 port config:

  interface Ethernet10/26

  description Teste DELL 6224

  switchport access vlan 6

  no shutdown

5. I connected tp cable on DELL eth 1/g1

6. I connected tp cable on NEXUS eth 10/26

Result:

Vlan id=6 on NEXUS was automatically removed

[Alessio Andreoli · Accepted solution]

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/datacenter/sw/4_2/nx-os/interfaces/configuration/guide/if_access_trunk.html#wp1433331

Good Luck

Alessio

PS: thanks Jeye, i am really tired

[Rosa Ladeira]

Thanks you all for your help.

I have gotten this recoemmendation from DELL Team:

Something else to change would be on the Cisco switch change from VTP to GVRP.

"Dell PowerConnect switches use the standards-based GARP VLAN registration

protocol (GVRP) for dynamic exchange of VLAN configuration information.

PowerConnect Application Note #4: VLAN Interoperability

www.dell.com/networking

Because the Dell and Cisco switches use different protocols by default, no exchange of VLAN control

traffic will take place – and thus no intra-VLAN traffic will flow between the Dell and Cisco switches.

By disabling VTP and enabling GVRP on the Cisco switch, it is possible to exchange intra-VLAN data and

control information in mixed Dell-Cisco environments."

www.dell.com/.../app_note_4.pdf

---------> as I have a Cisco stack (a NEXUS7000 as root plus 4 Cisco 6509 as leaves) I must understand wich kind of side effects I could got beside changing from VTP to GVRP !

What do you think about ?

Rosa

[Alessio Andreoli · Accepted solution]

HI Rosa,

i would not implement it because it is not supported and known. If an issue happened with it, it could be even difficult to troubleshoot.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk689/tk301/tsd_technology_support_sub-protocol_home.html

very interesting wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_Registration_Protocol

If you need to implement something like that, better you go for some very good IEEE 802.1ak documentation...

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/lanswitch/configuration/guide/lsw_cfg_mvrp.html

http://www.ieee802.org/1/pages/802.1ak.html

It's my attitude to implement only what is on RFC standard. This anyway is your personal choice.

Take Care

Alessio

PS: don't....don't....

[Rosa Ladeira]

Alessio your advice is really very cute !

Let me learn about it.

Thanks again.

Rosa

[Jerry Ye]

Any reason you can't turn off VTP or GVRP completely?

The BP for Nexus is if you don't need VTP, don't turn it on at all.

If you network is not 50+ L2 switches all running VTP server/client mode. You should be able to add/remove VLANs manually.

Regards,

jerry

[Rosa Ladeira]

Jerry my net is hundred per cent server/client.

In fact, I am affraid of these nonstandard components may compromise operational reliability.

Rosa

[Jerry Ye]

Hi Rosa,

I don't know what to tell you about Dell. But I think you can leave those on transparent/off and configure the VLANs manually. This should not affect your existing VTP server/client network.

Regards,

jerry

[Rosa Ladeira]

Jerry, in extreme circunstances, can I fiber connect NX7000 and DELL (10G spf connectors - both sides) with a single vlan without configuring trunk on interfaces? Just like a simple uplink to a dumb switch ?

Easier as :

interface Ethernet10/26

  description Teste DELL 6224

  switchport access vlan 6

  no shutdown

Rosa

[Jerry Ye · Accepted solution]

I think that will work. Your Dell will expect the data is coming from native VLAN.

Regards,

jerry

[Rosa Ladeira]

Thanks for your help.

Regards,

Rosa