topic Re: Switch Cascading in HPE EVA Storage

Switch Cascading

J Borgia — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:55:01 GMT

Can anyone tell me if this is possible.

I have an old 2Gb SAN switch 2/16EL that is trunked to a second 2Gb 16V switch across the street via long wav SFPs. Basically, two switches in one fabric.

I just received a 4/32 4Gb Powerpack switch.

Can I:
Install the 4/32 switch, install the long wav SFPs in it to connect up the 16V across the street, and then connect the old 2/16EL switch to the 4/32 switch in the same room via short wave SFPs?

Re: Switch Cascading

pasquino bocci_1 — Thu, 03 May 2007 14:03:31 GMT

Hi, sure, you can.

just set a new domain id on the new switch, look ate the corepid parameter, it should be the same on all switches, upgrade all switches to latest FW and be aware to trunk the switches connecting the ports on the same ASIC.
Pasquino

Re: Switch Cascading

JFoster — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:19:40 GMT

If you are doing CA with EVA's make sure the aptpolicy is set as 1 on the 4/32's, as there is an issue with this.

There is a customer advisory about the exchange-based and port base
routing policy on Brocade switches.

EVA/CA and MA/DRM use port base routing.

See the following link.

http://h200003.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=de&c
c=de&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=471548&prodTypeId=12169&objectID=c00590193

HTH,
Jake.

Re: Switch Cascading

J Borgia — Fri, 04 May 2007 07:42:57 GMT

We're not doing CA, but thanks all. I'll give this a try.

Re: Switch Cascading

Georges Esteves — Mon, 07 May 2007 04:32:55 GMT

hi,

i don't remember if it's included in the powerpack, but to build a fabric with more than 2 switchs, you need the extended fabric license !!!

So check that you have this license included with your 4/32 powerpack switch !!

Good luck.

Georges.

Re: Switch Cascading

Stephen Kebbell — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:26:28 GMT

Georges, that is not correct.
Extended Fabric is for ISLs longer than 10km!
What you are referring to is the Full Fabric license.
There are some switches with a 2-Domain or 4-Domain Fabric license, which needs to upgrade to Full Fabric if that limit is exceeded. The 2/16V has a 2-Domain limit, so a Full-Fabric license will probably be needed. The 2/16-EL is a bit older, and had a 4-Domain limit.

Just telnet to each switch and run licenseshow to see what you have.

Also the corepid parameter which Pasquino mentioned is important.

Regards,
Stephen

Re: Switch Cascading

Georges Esteves — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:45:23 GMT

sorry for the mistake !!

i confused full and extended fabric license

Re: Switch Cascading

J Borgia — Mon, 07 May 2007 07:10:00 GMT

Thanks so much again, all of you, for the input. Now, if I can only get our wiring infrastructure folks to move the fibres to the rack I need them in, I can try this little solution.

Thanks for the great info received here.