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Nexus 5x00 Unified Fabric Configuration

The Nexus 5x00 switches provide multiple options for using FCoE and have evolved since the platform was introduced in 2008. With the majority of Nexus 5x00 implementations used in the access layer of data center networks, it stands to reason that FCoE is predominant in the access layer. Nexus 5x00s can be used in single hop, multihop, and Fabric Extender (FEX)-based topologies using both native fibre channel interfaces, pure FCoE, or any combination. In addition, new features such as FCoE NPV and Enhanced vPC provide even more options for network administrators to choose from.

With the Nexus 5x00 switch, FCoE functionality is a licensed feature. After the license is installed, FCoE configuration can be completed.

Example 8-1 shows how to verify the installed licenses.

Example 8-1. Verifying FCoE License

N5K-1# show lic usa
Feature                      Ins  Lic   Status Expiry Date Comments
                                 Count
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FCOE_NPV_PKG                  No    -   Unused             -
FM_SERVER_PKG                 No    -   Unused             -
ENTERPRISE_PKG                Yes   -   Unused Never       -
FC_FEATURES_PKG               Yes   -   Unused Never       -
VMFEX_FEATURE_PKG             No    -   Unused             -
ENHANCED_LAYER2_PKG           No    -   Unused             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------
N5K-1#

Example 8-2 shows how to enable the FCoE feature.

Example 8-2. Enabling FCoE

N5K-1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N5K-1(config)# feature fcoe
FC license checked out successfully
fc_plugin extracted successfully
FC plugin loaded successfully
FCoE manager enabled successfully
N5K-1(config)#
N5K-1(config)# show license usage
Feature                      Ins  Lic   Status Expiry Date Comments
                                 Count
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FCOE_NPV_PKG                  No    -   Unused             -
FM_SERVER_PKG                 No    -   Unused             -
ENTERPRISE_PKG                Yes   -   Unused Never       -
FC_FEATURES_PKG               Yes   -   In use Never       -
VMFEX_FEATURE_PKG             No    -   Unused             -
ENHANCED_LAYER2_PKG           No    -   Unused             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------
N5K-1(config)#

Enabling NPV mode requires a write erase and reboot, as demonstrated in Example 8-3.

Example 8-3. Enabling NPV Mode

N5K-1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N5K-1(config)# show license usage
Feature                      Ins  Lic   Status Expiry Date Comments
                                 Count
---------------------------------------------------------------------
FCOE_NPV_PKG                  No    -   Unused             -
FM_SERVER_PKG                 No    -   Unused             -
ENTERPRISE_PKG                Yes   -   Unused Never       -
FC_FEATURES_PKG               Yes   -   In use Never       -
VMFEX_FEATURE_PKG             No    -   Unused             -
ENHANCED_LAYER2_PKG           No    -   Unused             -
---------------------------------------------------------------------

N5K-1(config)# feature npv
Verify that boot variables are set and the changes are saved.
Changing to npv mode erases the current configuration and reboots the
switch in npv mode. Do you want to continue? (y/n):y
Shutdown Ports..
 writing reset reason 90,
2012 Jul 30 00:32:39 N5K-1 %$ VDC-1 %$ Jul 30 00:32:39 %KERN-0-
SYSTEM_MSG: Shutdown Ports.. - kernel
2012 Jul 30 00:32:39 N5K-1 %$ VDC-1 %$ Jul 30 00:32:39 %KERN-0-
SYSTEM_MSG:  writINIT: Sending processes the TERM signal
Sending all processes the TERM signal...
Sending all processes the KILL signal...
Unmounting filesystems...
Restarting system.

Single-Hop FCoE Configuration: Nexus 5x00

Now that the switches are configured for FCoE and have NPV configured, the next step is to configure the interconnection between the upstream Fibre Channel switch and the Nexus 5x00. In this example, a Nexus 5010 is connected to a Cisco MDS 9500 Fibre Channel directory via a 4-Gb native Fibre Channel port.

The first step is to configure the MDS to use NPIV, configure the port, and add it to the correct VSAN. This enables the MDS to support multiple FLOGI on a physical interface (NPIV), and for good documentation a description is added to the physical interface before being enabled. Finally, the port is added to the correct VSAN, 10 in this example. Figure 8-11 shows the topology for this environment.

Figure 8-11

Figure 8-11. Single-Hop FCoE with Nexus 5x00

Example 8-4 shows how to configure the ISL between the MDS and the Nexus 5000.

Example 8-4. Configuring the MDS Port

CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1# config
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# feature npiv
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# interface fc3/4
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# switchport description Connection to CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1 2/1
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# switchport trunk mode off
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# no shutdown
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# vsan database
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config-vsan-db)# vsan 10 interface fc3/4
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1(config)# end
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1#
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1# show vsan membership interface fc3/4
fc3/4
        vsan:10
        allowed list:1-4078,4080-4093
CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1#

Next, the Nexus 5x00 needs to have a port configured for the connection to the MDS. The port is configured for the NP mode and added to the appropriate VSAN, 10 to match with the MDS configuration.

Example 8-5 shows how to configure the fibre channel uplink to the SAN core.

Example 8-5. Configuring FC Uplink

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config)# int fc2/1
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# switchport mode NP
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# switchport description Connection to CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1
fc3/4
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# no shutdown
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# end
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1#

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# show int fc2/1
fc2/1 is up
    Port description is Connection to CMHLAB-DC1-MDS1 fc3/4
    Hardware is Fibre Channel, SFP is short wave laser w/o OFC (SN)
    Port WWN is 20:41:00:0d:ec:a3:0d:00
    Admin port mode is NP, trunk mode is off
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port mode is NP
    Port vsan is 10
    Speed is 4 Gbps
    Transmit B2B Credit is 16
    Receive B2B Credit is 16
    Receive data field Size is 2112
    Beacon is turned off
    1 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
    1 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
      10055 frames input, 5625012 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
        0 CRC,  0 unknown class
        0 too long, 0 too short
      10054 frames output, 523260 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
      1 input OLS, 1 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
      1 output OLS, 1 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
    last clearing of "show interface" counters never
      16 receive B2B credit remaining
      16 transmit B2B credit remaining
      0 low priority transmit B2B credit remaining
    Interface last changed at Mon May 21 20:09:15 2012


CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# show npv sta

npiv is enabled

disruptive load balancing is disabled

External Interfaces:
====================
  Interface:  fc2/1, VSAN:   10, FCID: 0x7c0020, State: Up

  Number of External Interfaces: 1

Server Interfaces:
==================

  Number of Server Interfaces: 0

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1#

After the connection between the MDS and Nexus 5x00 is configured, the next task is to configure the FCoE VLAN to VSAN mapping, configure the Ethernet interface that connects to the server, and finally configure the Virtual Fibre Channel (VFC) interface. This process is shown in Example 8-6 and Example 8-7.

Example 8-6. Configuring FCoE VLAN to VSAN Mapping

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config)# vlan 10
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-vlan)# fcoe vsan 10
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-vlan)# name FCOE-FabA
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-vlan)# end
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# show vlan fcoe

Original VLAN ID        Translated VSAN ID      Association State
----------------        ------------------      -----------------

      10                        10               Operational

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1#

After the FCoE VLAN is configured and mapped to a fibre channel VSAN, the Ethernet port that connects to the server should be configured (refer to Example 8-7).

Example 8-7. Configuring the Physical and VFC Interface for FCoE

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config)# interface Ethernet1/7
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# description Connection to DEMOLAB-VM1 - Emulex CNA
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,101,301,401,701,801
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# interface vfc17
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# bind interface Ethernet1/7
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# switchport description FCoE Interface for DEMOLAB-VM1
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# no shutdown
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1(config-if)# end
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# show int e1/7 trunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          Native  Status        Port
              Vlan                  Channel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/7        1       trunking      --

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          Vlans Allowed on Trunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/7        10,101,301,401,701,801

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          Vlans Err-disabled on Trunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/7        none

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          STP Forwarding
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/7        10,101,301,401,701,801

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          Vlans in spanning tree forwarding state and not pruned
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/7        --

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port          Vlans Forwarding on FabricPath
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1# show int vfc17
vfc17 is up
    Bound interface is Ethernet1/7
    Port description is FCoE Interface for DEMOLAB-VM1
    Hardware is Ethernet
    Port WWN is 20:10:00:0d:ec:a3:0d:3f
    Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is on
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port vsan is 10
    1 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
    1 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
      0 frames input, 0 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
      0 frames output, 0 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
    last clearing of "show interface" counters never

CMHLAB-DC1-TOR1#

FCoE-NPV on Nexus 5x00

Configuration of the FCoE NPV mode on a Nexus 5x00 switch is similar to the configuration for the Fibre Channel NPV mode. The main difference is the configuration of an Ethernet port for the ISL and the VNP port. Figure 8-12 shows the topology used for the FCoE-NPV examples.

Figure 8-12

Figure 8-12. FCoE NPV Configuration Between a Nexus 5000 and Nexus 7000

First, the FCoE NPV feature must be enabled, as shown in Example 8-8.

Example 8-8. FCOE-NPV Feature Installation

N5K-1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N5K-1(config)# feature fcoe-npv
FCoE NPV license checked out successfully
fc_plugin extracted successfully
FC plugin loaded successfully
FCoE manager enabled successfully
FCoE NPV enabled on all modules successfully
N5K-1(config)# end
N5K-1#

After the feature is installed, the switch needs to be configured for the VSAN and VLAN mapping to associate traffic in a VLAN to a VSAN, as shown in Example 8-9.

Example 8-9. VLAN to VSAN Mapping

N5K-1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N5K-1(config)# vsan database
N5K-1(config-vsan-db)# vsan 2000 name FCOE
N5K-1(config-vsan-db)# vlan 2000
N5K-1(config-vlan)# fcoe vsan 2000
N5K-1(config-vlan)# end
N5K-1# show vlan fcoe

Original VLAN ID        Translated VSAN ID      Association State
----------------        ------------------      -----------------

      2000                      2000             Operational
N5K-1#

Next, the Ethernet interface and VFC interface need to be configured to carry the Ethernet VLAN and VNP mode. Example 8-10 reflects this process.

Example 8-10. VNP Port Configuration on the Nexus 5000

N5K-1# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N5K-1(config)# int e1/1
N5K-1(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
N5K-1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 2000
N5K-1(config-if)# no shut
N5K-1(config-if)# desc FCoE-NPV Connection to N7K-1 E6/27
N5K-1(config-if)# interface vfc11
N5K-1(config-if)# desc FCoE-NPV Connection to N7K-1 vfc11
N5K-1(config-if)# switchport mode np
N5K-1(config-if)# bind interface e1/1
N5K-1(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan 2000
N5K-1(config-if)# no shut
N5K-1(config-if)# end
N5K-1#N5K-1# show int vfc11
vfc11 is trunking
    Bound interface is Ethernet1/1
    Port description is FCoE-NPV Connection to N7K-1 vfc11
    Hardware is Ethernet
    Port WWN is 20:0a:00:05:73:d3:14:7f
    Admin port mode is NP, trunk mode is on
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port mode is TNP
    Port vsan is 1
    Trunk vsans (admin allowed and active) (2000)
    Trunk vsans (up)                       (2000)
    Trunk vsans (isolated)                 ()
    Trunk vsans (initializing)             ()
    1 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
    1 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
      10 frames input, 1140 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
      7 frames output, 980 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
    last clearing of "show interface" counters Mon Jul 30 17:21:52 2012

    Interface last changed at Mon Jul 30 17:21:52 2012


N5K-1#

A similar configuration must be applied on the Nexus 7000 side of the link. The primary difference is that the VFC is configured for the VF mode and NPIV is enabled. Example 8-11 shows the commands used for the configuration and the commands to verify the correct operation.

Example 8-11. VFC and Ethernet Port Configuration on the Nexus 7000

N7K-1-FCoE# config
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
N7K-1-FCoE(config)# feature npiv
N7K-1-FCoE(config)# interface Ethernet6/27
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# description FCoE-NPV Connection to N5K-1 e1/1
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# switchport
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 2000
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# no shutdown
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)#
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)#interface vfc11
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)#bind interface Ethernet6/27
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vsan 2000
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)# no shutdown
N7K-1-FCoE(config-if)#end
N7K-1-FCoE#N7K09-FCoE# show int vfc11
vfc11 is trunking
    Bound interface is Ethernet6/27
    Hardware is Ethernet
    Port WWN is 20:0a:00:26:98:0f:d9:bf
    Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is on
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port mode is TF
    Port vsan is 1
    Speed is auto
    Trunk vsans (admin allowed and active) (2000)
    Trunk vsans (up)                       (2000)
    Trunk vsans (isolated)                 ()
    Trunk vsans (initializing)             ()
    7 fcoe in packets
    868 fcoe in octets
    11 fcoe out packets
    1324 fcoe out octets
    Interface last changed at Mon Jul 30 17:44:30 2012

N7K01-FCoE# show fcns data

VSAN 2000:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCID        TYPE  PWWN                    (VENDOR)        FC4-TYPE:FEATURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
0x010000    N     20:0a:00:05:73:d3:14:7f (Cisco)         npv

Total number of entries = 1
N7K-1-FCoE#

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