cisco9124 fabric extension

[Needhan Nair]

Hi guys. I'm very new to SANs so I may ask a few "stupid" questions so please excuse my ignorance. I have 2 cisco mds9124 fabric switches and 2 EVA4400s. I want to seperate the EVAs for DR purposes. I need help extending the fabric onto 2 new cisco9124 switches that I bought. I have no clue how to get these interlinked and zoned correctly. Do i need specific licences for fabric extension? Can I use cisco device manager to configure the zoning after the extension? Is there anyone who has done this before that can tell me where to start?

[Bharath_Pingali]

Hello Needham,

I hope you know that the switch on 4400s is Brocade.

Connecting CISCO 9124 to 4400s needs the 4400s's switch to be in open mode.

Again i am not sure if this configuration is supported.

Fabric interoperability: Merging fabrics
based on C-series and B-series Fibre
Channel switches application notes


http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00758719/c00758719.pdf

Please read this link for more info.

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00403562/c00403562.pdf

Hope this helps.

Thank You
Bharath

[Needhan Nair]

So basically I have to have a brocade switch to extend the fabric? Our 4400s were bought with Cisco fabric switches since that is the company standard.I now have 4 x cisco 9124 fabric switches as i understood that the fabric can be extended over these swicthes.

[Bharath_Pingali]

Hello Needhan,

You dont need to have two Brocade switches to make your configuration work.

Please check your configuration;

EVA 4400s means that you have two Brocade embedded switches in your array.

EVA 4400 means there are no embedded switches, just controller ports.

Can you please confirm your Array model?

-Thank You
Bharath

[Needhan Nair]

Ok in that case I have 2 x eva4000. No embedded switches just the controllers.And I have 2 active Cisco MDS9124 switches and 2 new that I need to join to the fabric. Thanks a mil for your help Bharat.Much appreciated

[Bharath_Pingali]

Hello Needhan,

I am sure not about your zoning requirements.

If you just have one "vsan", power ON the new switch and it should take you directly to setup prompt (thru serial/console port).

You can configure the IP and other management info in the setup.

After you complete your setup connect ISL cables.

I advice reading the following document, if you are new to HP SAN.

"6 C-series switches and fabric rules"


http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00403562/c00403562.pdf

Hope this helps.

-Thank You
Bharath