Fabricinterconnect aditional fc port configuration

[Mohammed786]

Dear All,
We have a UCS blade and one NetApp storage and that storage has been connected with FC.
We want to connect a new NetApp storage to the existing UCS blade. For that, we have to FC port available in UCS Fabricinterconnect(Cisco UCS 6248UP).
I have a query on the above configuration

1. Do we need downtime for the server to connect and configure?
2. Do we need to create a new server profile or existing server profile can we use for the configuration?

[Kirk J]

Greetings.

If you have existing (unused) FC ports, then you won't have any downtime for the FIs.

If you need to reallocate/convert some unified ports that are currently Eth ports to FC mode, then you will have to reboot the FIs for those changes to apply.  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/Network-Mgmt/4-0/b_UCSM_Network_Mgmt_Guide_4_0/b_UCSM_Network_Mgmt_Guide_4_0_chapter_0100.html#task_A7ED517EE3C9482FA063827E4CBD25AE 

If you are planning on using the same vsan and existing vHBAs on existing servers/service profiles, then no changes will be required on the UCSM/service profiles, and you will need to adjust your zoning on the upstream FC switch.

If you are going to use different vsan for new netapps storage, then you will want to modify the service profiles to include an additional vHBA, and assign the new vsan you will use.  The servers will require reboot to apply the additional vHBAs

Kirk...

[Mohammed786]

Dear Kirk,

Thank you for reply

If I am planning on using the same vsan and existing vHBAs on existing servers/service profiles, t

What is change required on zoning( connection profile)? i want to connect both netapp storage to the existing server?

do you have any documents?

[Kirk J]

Your upstream FC switches will already have zones that say WWPN of older netapp storage targets and WWPN of server HBAs are allowed to talk.  You will need to have something similar created for WWPNs of new netapp storage matched up  with the server vHBA WWPNs.

Zoning commands will depend on exactly what FC switches you are using.

Kirk...

[Mohammed786]

Dear Krik,

The upstream switch is MDS 9148S 16 G Multilayer Fabric Switch and Fabric interconnect is Cisco UCS 6248UP.

is it possible to connect Netapp to Fabric interconnect  UCS 6248UP?

[Kirk J]

It is supported, but the FI FC mode will need to change from 'end host mode' to switching mode.

Please see https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/servers-unified-computing/ucs-infrastructure-ucs-manager-software/116082-config-ucs-das-00.html

It is a little older, but should still apply.

Also, https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/ucs-manager/GUI-User-Guides/Storage-Mgmt/4-0/b_UCSM_GUI_Storage_Management_Guide_4_0/b_UCSM_GUI_Storage_Management_Guide_4_0_chapter_01101.html 

You will need to disconnect the MDS from the FIs, if you are putting the FIs in 'switching' mode for FC.

The MDS and FIs will have conflicting/overlapping roles for some of the fibre channel stack.

Kirk...

[Mohammed786]

Thank you Krirk,

I am new in cisco ucs, what is the advantage of the upstream san switch? (no zone is required on Fabric interconnect)