Nexus 9k Fex associate command doesn't work

[everton.sales]

Hi guys,

When I try to configure fex from Port eth1/1 to 1/48 it works perfectly, but when I try to do same thing from port eth1/49 to eth1/54 the command fex associate 101 doesn't work!

It says: ERROR: Invalid port mode - not switchport

interface eth1/51
switchport mode fex-fabric
fex associate 101

Even if I configure channel group command on the interface It doesn't work.

Any idea ?

Thank you,

Everton

[Reza Sharifi]

Hi,

Are you using a breakout cable or straight 40Gig?

https://quickview.cloudapps.cisco.com/quickview/bug/CSCuz67752

HTH

[everton.sales]

Hi, I'm using a QSFP-H40G-AOC5m cable.

[Ben Walters]

You are missing the switchport command on the interface.

For example

interface port-channel119

  switchport
  switchport mode fex-fabric
  fex associate 119
 

[everton.sales]

Hi Ben,

The port is already in switchport .

This is the config below.

interface port-channel101

  switchport
  switchport mode fex-fabric
  fex associate 101

I get this error message only if I try to configure any ports from 1/49 to 1/54.

If I configure ports from 1/1 to 1/48 it works perfectly fine.

Thank you

[Reza Sharifi · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I don't think you can use the 6 uplink ports as FEX ports. 

From the 9k document:

The uplink module should not be removed from a Cisco Nexus 9300 Series switch that is running Cisco NX-OS Release 7.0(3)I1(1). The ports on the uplink module should not be used to connect FEX modules.

Link:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus9000/sw/ale_ports/b_Limitations_for_ALE_Uplink_Ports_on_Cisco_Nexus_9000_Series_Switches.html

HTH

[everton.sales]

@Reza Sharifi You're right!

FEX Support for 93180YC-EX was added starting 70(3)I5(1) and later codes.

I upgraded the NXOS to 7.0.3.I7.2 version and the "fex associate" command is working now.

Thank you

[Reza Sharifi]

Thanks for the update!

[Constantin Scurac]

Hi, 

this is from release notes for 7.0(3)I1(1)

FEX

• FEX is supported only on the Cisco Nexus 9372PX and 9396PX switches. It is not supported on the other Cisco Nexus 9300 Series switches or the Cisco Nexus 9500 Series switches.

So, always check whether your model of Nexus and NX-OS does support the FEXes. 
I donwgraded many times Nexus switches because of that. 
In release notes it may look like NX-OS does support FEX extensibility, but for specific models of Nexus such feature was cut. 

Cheers!

[anthony.sarka]

I trying this command and not having any luck...  can you tell me what mode 9k it was that you did this on?

I have a  C9372PX.

-Anthony Sarka

[everton.sales]

@anthony.sarka

The Model is 93180YC-EX

FEX Support for 93180YC-EX was added starting 70(3)I5(1) and later codes.

I upgraded the NXOS to 7.0.3.I7.2 version and the "fex associate" command is working now.

Best of luck!