HP MSR 1000 router series, usage of SIC slot 1?

[lorn10]

Hi all

I have here now a question regarding the usage of the SIC slot 1 at the MSR 1000 router series. It looks that this slot cannot be used for all SIC modules. I have tested JG738A (SIC-1GEC) and JG739A (SIC-4GSW), none of them is detected at SIC slot 1, they work only in SIC slot 2. For example, when both are installed, I get the following error:

<HP MSR1002>show device verbose
 Device Name: HPE MSR1002-4

 Slot No.     Board Type                Status        Max Ports 
 -------------------------------------------------------------- 
 0            RPU                       Normal          9        
 1            Unknown                   Abnormal        Unknown  
 2            SIC-1GEC                  Normal          1        

 Slot 0
  Status:    Normal
  Type:      RPU
  Hardware:  2.0
  Driver:    1.0
  CPLD:      1.0

 Slot 1
  Status:    Abnormal
  Reason:    Not support on this slot

 Slot 2
  Status:    Normal
  Type:      SIC-1GEC
  Hardware:  2.2
  Driver:    1.0
  CPLD:      2.0

It is strange that some modules are only working in certain SIC slots. This should be really better explained by HP. And in my case, at a MSR1002 router with only totally two SIC slots avaiable, only one single can be effectively used. So my additional SIC-4GSW (4-port 1 Gbps Ethernet Layer 2 SIC interface module) is useless.

This is in some way “unfair” because these SIC modules aren’t cheap, - they are mostly really expensive.

So why this is so, why cannot be both SIC slots used? For what is SIC slot 1 designed when it cannot be used like SIC slot 2?

It should be noted that my really old old 3Com MSR20 router didn’t had any such artificial limitations. Both SIC slots were equipped with a JD572A module and this worked absolutely great. ;-)

Any explanation would be helpful.

[akg7 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Its a hardware limitations. You can refer quick specs of MSR 1000 router on  pg.15 for certain configuration rules for certain SIC modules.

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=c04212582

HPE FlexNetwork MSR 1-port GbE Combo SIC Module JG738A
•min=0 \max=1 SFP Transceiver See Configuration
NOTE:6, 16, 18

HPE FlexNetwork MSR 4-port Gig-T Switch SIC Module JG739A
See Configuration
NOTE:17

Note 16 These Modules can install directly to the Routers (JG732A, JH060A)min=0\ max=1 per enclosure (only supported in Slot 2)
Note 17 These Modules can install directly to the Router JG875Amin=0\ max=1 per enclosure (only supported in Slot 2)
Note 18 These Modules can install directly to the Routers (JG875A)min=0\max=2 per enclosure (only supported in Slots 2 and 3)

Thanks!

[lorn10]

Thanks for the answer!

So according to this additional information it looks that SIC slot 1 is only usable in a dual-SIC aka DSIC scenario.

Single SIC modules are only functional in SIC slot 2 or 3. SIC slot 1 should be therefore regarded as some kind of extension to SIC slot 2.

Now this matter looks somewhat clearer. This is definitely a difference to the former MSR20 router series which had two fully functional SIC slots.

Finally, if someone needs to install two SIC modules it is necessary to get a MSR router model with at least three SIC slots. (Because only slot 2 and 3 are “single-SIC” compliant.)