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Integrating Nexus 5010 and Brocade 300

alemunmo81
Level 1
Level 1

Hello

Can i connect a nexus 5010 with a switch brocade 300??? if the answer is yes, how can i do this???

Thanks,

6 Replies 6

Hello,

You can connect them via an Interop VSAN on the Nexus Switch using the expansion module with 1/2/4 Gigabit Fibre Channel Ports.

The interop settings for the VSAN will depend on how you have the Brocade Switch configured. (PID 0/1 or Interop Mode).

Here are some links for you review:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5000/sw/configuration/guide/cli_rel_4_0_1a/vsan.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/storage/san_switches/mds9000/interoperability/guide/intopgd.html

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/interoperability/guide/ICG_cav.html

Considering Brocade FABOS 6 and beyond don't support interop mode with anything other than McData switches, I would have to say that the Brocade 300 and the Nexus can't work together.

Stephen

groutley
Level 1
Level 1

According to the Cisco Interop matrix

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/partner/docs/switches/datacenter/mds9000/interoperability/matrix/Matrix6.html#wp311832

you would only be able to connect them by putting the Brocade 300 into NPV(Brocade AG) mode.

That said the Brocade 300 is not listed as a supported switch to be connected to a Nexus.

Alas if you put the 300 into AG mode and you have targets (storage arrays) in the VSAN and you have Qlogic HBA's, that causes much drama as well. Its all to do with OUI ID's. Its not a simple exercise to fix that and I would not consider it worth while. A MDS 9124 is so well priced that why would you muck about with Brocades? If they don't want to play the interop game with other vendors, its their own fault.

alemunmo81
Level 1
Level 1

Ok, i will change the question, in despite of being the answers totally valid.

How is the architecture for connecting a SAN to SAN (storage) using switches nexus 5010 with the expansion module with 1/2/4 fiber channel ports.

The idea is to receive the storage from one side and carry it until the other side in IP Protocol for after convert fiber channel protocol. I hope, anyone is follow me with the idea.

Thanks in advanced for any help.

Basically (in the Cisco world) you have:

MDS switch is connected to the storage arrays.

Nexus 5010 is connected to the MDS via the expansion modules so that provides the storage as such to the 5010.

The servers have Converged Network Adaptors (CNA) that connect to the Nexus 5010. That means that the server uses FCoE to at least the Nexus and then the Nexus uses Fibre Channel to the storage array.

Brocade also has a solution (the 8000 has a similar ability to the Nexus 5010/5020) and you still need the Brocade switching hardware such as the 300.

So far, the 8000 has 8 Gpbs abilities and the Nexus is still only 4 Gpbs. Vendors are producing Storage ports now that run at 8 Gpbs so Brocade actually have the jump on Cisco in this respect. The FC devices that are connected to the Nexus would most likely be targets not initiators.

FCoE has distance limitations.

FCoE is not FCIP. There is no IP protocol in FCoE.

Is that what you were after?

Stephen

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