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Configuring the Cisco FC switches

Each Cisco switch in the MetroCluster configuration must be configured appropriately for the ISL and storage connections.

The following requirements apply to the Cisco FC switches:

  • You must be using four supported Cisco switches of the same model with the same NX-OS version and licensing.

  • The MetroCluster configuration requires four switches.

    The four switches must be connected into two fabrics of two switches each, with each fabric spanning both sites.

  • The switch must support connectivity to the ATTO FibreBridge model.

  • You cannot be using encryption or compression in the Cisco FC storage fabric.

    It is not supported in the MetroCluster configuration.

The following requirement applies to the Inter-Switch Link (ISL) connections:

  • All ISLs must have the same length and same speed in one fabric.

    Different lengths of ISLs can be used in the different fabrics. The same speed must be used in all fabrics.

The following requirement applies to the storage connections:

  • Each storage controller must have four initiator ports available to connect to the switch fabrics.

    Two initiator ports must be connected from each storage controller to each fabric.

    Note
    You can configure DM7000H and AFA DM7000F systems with two initiators ports per controller (a single initiator port to each fabric) if all of the following criteria are met:

    • There are fewer than four FC initiator ports available to connect the disk storage and no additional ports can be configured as FC initiators.

    • All slots are in use and no FC initiator card can be added.

  1. Cisco switch license requirements
    Certain feature-based licenses might be required for the Cisco switches in a fabric-attached MetroCluster configuration. These licenses enable you to use features such as QoS or long-distance mode credits on the switches. You must install the required feature-based licenses on all four switches in a MetroCluster configuration.
  2. Setting the Cisco FC switch to factory defaults
    To ensure a successful configuration, you must set the switch to its factory defaults. This ensures that the switch is starting from a clean configuration.
  3. Configure the Cisco FC switch basic settings and community string
    You must specify the basic settings with the setup command or after issuing the reload command.
  4. Acquiring licenses for ports
    You do not have to use Cisco switch licenses on a continuous range of ports; instead, you can acquire licenses for specific ports that are used and remove licenses from unused ports. You should verify the number of licensed ports in the switch configuration and, if necessary, move licenses from one port to another as needed.
  5. Enabling ports in a Cisco MDS 9148 or 9148S switch
    In Cisco MDS 9148 or 9148S switches, you must manually enable the ports required in a MetroCluster configuration.
  6. Configuring the F-ports on a Cisco FC switch
    You must configure the F-ports on the FC switch. In a MetroCluster configuration, the F-ports are the ports that connect the switch to the HBA initiators, FC-VI interconnects and FC-to-SAS bridges. Each port must be configured individually.
  7. Assigning buffer-to-buffer credits to F-Ports in the same port group as the ISL
    You must assign the buffer-to-buffer credits to the F-ports if they are in the same port group as the ISL. If the ports do not have the required buffer-to-buffer credits, the ISL could be inoperative. This task is not required if the F-ports are not in the same port group as the ISL port.
  8. Creating and configuring VSANs on Cisco FC switches
    You must create a VSAN for the FC-VI ports and a VSAN for the storage ports on each FC switch in the MetroCluster configuration. The VSANs should have a unique number and name. You must do additional configuration if you are using two ISLs with in-order delivery of frames.
  9. Configuring E-ports
    You must configure the switch ports that connect the ISL (these are the E-Ports). The procedure you use depends on which switch you are using.
  10. Configuring zoning on a Cisco FC switch
    You must assign the switch ports to separate zones to isolate storage (HBA) and controller (FC-VI) traffic.
  11. Ensuring the FC switch configuration is saved
    You must make sure the FC switch configuration is saved to the startup config on all switches.
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