Create port channel between UCS-FI and MDS 9124 (F Mode)

[JO BO]

Dear Team,

We were trying to create  port channel between UCS FI and MDS 9124

But the port channel not getting active in F mode on MDS 9124

FI is in FC End Host Mode

We have enabled FC uplink trunking on FI

We have enabled NPIV on MDS

We have enabled trunk on MDS

FI and MDS in default VSAN

To check we changed the FI mode to FC Switching mode and port channels became active but in E mode

when we enabled FC uplink trunking on FI and FC Switching mode port channels became active in TE mode

but in both the above cases showflogi database shows WWPN of SAN alone not showing any from FI.

How to achive this?

Have read that no need to change the swicthing mode to FC Switching mode and keep as FC Endhost mode

SO how to achieve Port channel with F mode in MDS and FI ( Mode showing as NProxy)

Does it has to do anything with MDS NX-OS version? (https://supportforums.cisco.com/thread/2179129)

If yes how to upgrade as license for ports came along with Device and we do not have any PAC/PAK or license file as it came

with license

Also we have seen 2 files availabe for download (m9100-s2ek9-kickstart-mz.5.2.8b.bin and m9100-s2ek9-mz.5.2.8b.bin) which to use

Thanks and Regards

Jose

[richbarb]

Hello JO BO,

Create the same VSAN in your FI that connected with MDS, don't leave VSAN 1.

In FI under the san-port-channel port select the specific VSAN that you create before.

[JO BO]

Thank you Richard..

yes as mentioned above FI and MDS in default VSAN -VSAN 1 (default in FI and default in MDS)

Regards

Jose

[alex.veber]

You need to set the port channel mode to active on the mds. The default is on.

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

[JO BO]

Thank you ..Alex we have made it ON only..

as mentioned earlier

"" 

To check we changed the FI mode to FC Switching mode and port channels became active but in E mode and

when we enabled FC uplink trunking on FI and FC Switching mode port channels became active in TE mode

but in both the above cases showflogi database shows WWPN of SAN alone not showing any from FI.

How to achive this?

Have read that no need to change the swicthing mode to FC Switching mode and keep as FC Endhost mode

""

Thanks and Regards

Jose

[richbarb]

Hello Jose,

Pls, take a look on this document.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps10281/products_configuration_example09186a0080afd130.shtml

Regards.

Sent from Cisco Technical Support Android App

[JO BO]

Thank you Richard..

But what we were looking is whether FC port channel support on MDS or have to updgrade NxOS version to get this support?

Regards

Jose

[richbarb]

Hello JO BO,

In the MDS 9124 the F port in the FC port-channel is supported, but trunk FC port-channel (TF) isn't supported in NPIV mode.

I recommend to you create 2 new VSANs for UCS in the fabrics, VSAN A and B to segregate the traffic.

Leave in the MDS, the FC port-channel as F port.

In the UCS configure the Uplink san-port-channels to the specific VSAN attached, configure the vHBAs to VSAN and bootup the hosts to vHBAs do FLOGI to the fabric.

Regards,

[JO BO]

Thank you.. Richard..

So from what you said ,what i understand is on FI uplink trunkng is enable in FC End Host Mode and if we enable trunking on MDS in F mode--> It is not supported and the port channels wont come up?

So if we enable trunking only on FI and on MDS if we configure port channel without trunking will it be fine?

""

We have enabled FC uplink trunking on FI

We have enabled NPIV on MDS

We have enabled trunk on MDS

FI and MDS in default VSAN

""

Regards

Jose

[richbarb]

Hello JO BO,

Leave as F port in the MDS.

Why are you using trunk in the UCS if you will use only one VSAN per FI?

In UCS disable the Uplink FC trunk (It's not necessary in this case).

To disable the trunk on the UCSM.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/unified_computing/ucs/sw/gui/config/guide/2.1/b_UCSM_GUI_Configuration_Guide_2_1_chapter_010111.html#concept_87A3AC056FFF4029AD0CE2D1127AD7D4

Except if you don't have two separete fabrics, I recommend to you create specific VSAN to this connection, is better for troubleshooting process.

Regards.

[JO BO]

Thank you Richard..

wil check this out  so no trunking on both sides and F port channel should work?

and if we need mutiple VSAN per FI then how it has to be done?

We have 2 FIs

The above link shows as forbidden but its ok will disable the same way we enabled

Regards

Jose

[richbarb]

If you need use more than 1 vsan by FI, the alternative is don't use san port-channel, leave the dynamic pinning to get the same resilience level of the san port-channel.

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

[JO BO]

hi Richard when we set up . it keeps switching between "initializing" and finally gives a messge

Link Down OLS Received

Thanks and Regards

Jose

[Manuel Velasco · Accepted solution]

Hi Jo Bo,

what version of software if your MDS running?

On your UCS do connect nxos and show inteface brieft and look at the mac address.

it is possible that you might be hitting the bug below. if this is the case you might need to upgrade the firmware on your MDS.

Add MAC OUI "002a6a", "8c604f", "00defb" for 5k/UCS-FI

http://tools.cisco.com/Support/BugToolKit/search/getBugDetails.do?method=fetchBugDetails&bugId=CSCty04686

Symptom:

Nexus switch unable to connect any other Nexus or other Cisco Switch in NPV mode with a F port-channel.   Issue might be seen in earlier 5.1 releases like

5.1.3.N1.1a

but not the latest

5.1.3.N2.1c

release. Issue is also seen in

5.2(1)N1(1)

and

6.0(2)N1(1)

and later releases.

Conditions:

Nexus configured for SAN PortChannels or NPIV trunking mode Nexus connected to UCS via regular F port channel where UCS in NPV mode  NPV edge switch: Port WWN OUI from UCS FI  or other Cisco manufactured switch:  xx:xx:00:2a:6a:xx:xx:xx   OR  xx:xx:8c:60:4f:xx:xx:xx

Workaround:

Turn-off trunking mode on Nexus 5k TF-port Issue does not happen with standard  F-PORT Remove SAN Portchannel config

Further Problem Description:

To verify the issue please collect  show flogi internal event-history errors  Each time the port is attempted OLS, NOS, LRR counters will increment. This can be determined via the following output,  show port internal info all show port internal event-history errors

[JO BO]

Dear All,

Finally the F mode port channel got enabled .. raised a TAC with cisco and and yes it was a bug!!

Manuel said is right!

The version that was running on MDS 5.01,upgraded with m9100-s2ek9-kickstart-mz.5.2.8b and m9100-s2ek9-mz.5.2.8b

Now the issue has been fixed and port channel got  enabled with out trunking on FI

But when we enable trunking on FI it give a message that NPIV not enabled on upstream switch even though NPIV is enabled-think is this because -->In the MDS 9124 the F port in the FC port-channel is supported, but trunk FC port-channel (TF) isn't supported in NPIV mode as mentioned by Richard?

Thanks and Regards

Jose