Nexus 5020 like an FC switch

testspa · ‎07-06-2009

Hi,

I'm going to usa a couple of Nexus 5020 in a data-center but I've a doubt. Each Nexus has 16 FC ports. Omitting FCoE, can I use these FC ports like in a conventional FC switch? The customer would like to migrate from FC to FCoE but he has to use some conventionals FC interfaces. Have I to use a FC switch too?

Thanks in advance,

Marco

johgill · ‎07-07-2009

Marco,

Yes, you can use pure FC with the modules including FC ports. The 5k has much less complex support for FC than an MDS switch, but is advancing with each release.

Usually you will find an MDS switch somewhere else in the network where a 5k is connecting.

testspa · ‎07-10-2009

Hi John,

I'm going to install only the Nexus 5020 without any FC switch. The customers should connect some servers to the FC storage and we'd like to avoid to buy a couple of FC switch because the customer will migrate to FCoE.

Can you confirm that we can configure the Nexus to work as a FC switch?

Thanks again,

Marco

johgill · ‎07-10-2009

Storage is very picky, it depends on the storage.

Right now, here's what is supported:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/interoperability/matrix/Matrix6.html