Conversational-Learning

[rmv72]

Hello!

As mentioned in documents "All FabricPath VLANs use conversational MAC address learning."

Here my configuration-

vlan 100-200,252

  mode fabricpath

Configured 2 interfaces vlan with ip addresses-

n7k-right-bor-core# sh ip int br  | exc unas

IP Interface Status for VRF "default"(1)

Interface            IP Address      Interface Status

Vlan100              10.89.0.3       protocol-up/link-up/admin-up      

Vlan252              10.89.252.3     protocol-up/link-up/admin-up      

n7k-right-bor-core# sh vlan id 100

VLAN Name                             Status    Ports

---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------

100  VLAN0100                         active    Po61, Po62, Po4000, Eth1/17

                                                Eth1/18, Eth1/45, Eth1/46

                                                Eth1/47, Eth1/48

VLAN Type         Vlan-mode

---- -----        ----------

100  enet         FABRICPATH 

Remote SPAN VLAN

----------------

Disabled

Primary  Secondary  Type             Ports

-------  ---------  ---------------  -------------------------------------------

n7k-right-bor-core# sh vlan id 252

VLAN Name                             Status    Ports

---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------

252  ILO                              active    Po61, Po62, Po4000, Eth1/17

                                                Eth1/18, Eth1/45, Eth1/46

                                                Eth1/47, Eth1/48

VLAN Type         Vlan-mode

---- -----        ----------

252  enet         FABRICPATH 

Remote SPAN VLAN

----------------

Disabled

Primary  Secondary  Type             Ports

-------  ---------  ---------------  -------------------------------------------

All above means that vlan 100 and vlan 252 should use conversational MAC address learning.

But from that output it is not. Why it is so?

Mike

n7k-right-bor-core# sh mac address-table learning-mode

Vlan/BD Learning Mode

----    ----------

1       Non-Conversational-Learning

100     Non-Conversational-Learning

101     Conversational-Learning

102     Conversational-Learning

103     Conversational-Learning

104     Conversational-Learning

….

198     Conversational-Learning

199     Conversational-Learning

200     Conversational-Learning

252     Non-Conversational-Learning

[Jean Louis Rivera]

rmv72:

This is because you have configured SVIs for those Vlans, see below. See attached a 5K configuration guide that reference the below document on page  12.

Information About Conversational MAC Address Learning

You can use conversational MAC address learning or traditional MAC address learning.

To use conversational MAC address learning, you must do the following:

• Enable FabricPath.

• Ensure VLANs do not have switch virtual interface (SVI) enabled.

Conversational MAC address learning means that each switch learns only those MAC addresses for

interested hosts, rather than all MAC addresses in the domain. Each switch learns only those MAC

addresses that are actively speaking with it. In this way, conversational MAC learning consists of a

three-way handshake.

This selective learning, or conversational MAC address learning, allows you to scale the network beyond

the limits of individual switch MAC address tables.

All FabricPath VLANs use conversational MAC address learning.

Note CE VLANs support only traditional MAC address learning, where each switch learns the MAC addresses

of all hosts in the network.