What is dual-homed Fex?

The dual-homed FEX topology is ideal for servers with one NIC, because the failure of one Cisco Nexus 5500 Series device does not bring down the FEX and does not cut the single NIC server out of the network. The Dual-homed FEX topology can also be deployed for servers that have multiple NICs but do not support 802.3ad.

What is a Fex networking?

A Fabric Extender (FEX for short) is a companion to a Nexus 5000 or Nexus 7000 switch. The FEX, unlike a traditional switch, has no capability to store a forwarding table or run any control plane protocols. It relies on its parent 5000/7000 to perform those functions.

How do I configure Fex?

Having established that a FEX is not a switch, let’s take a look at the process of installing a new FEX and bringing it online.

1. Rack the FEX.
2. Install & cable the uplinks.
3. Configure a virtual port-channel and add physical interfaces.
4. Apply the code below to both 5Ks.
5. Next Page: Powering Up.

What are Fex modules?

The Fabric Extender (also referred to as the I/O Module, IOM, or FEX) logically extends the fabric interconnects to the blade server. The best analogy is to think of it as a remote line card that’s embedded into the blade server chassis, allowing blade connectivity to the external world.

What is enhanced VPC?

Enhanced VPC Routing supports the use of standard VPC features such as VPC Endpoints, security groups, network ACLs, managed NAT and internet gateways, enabling you to tightly manage the flow of data between your Amazon Redshift cluster and all of your data sources.

What is Fex pinning?

Static pinning mode instructs the switch to virtually split FEX into few blocks of ports and statically associate each block of ports with its own physical uplink. In other words, if one particular uplink fails, a range of FEX ports, associated with this uplink, fail as well.

What is Fex HIF port?

Host Interface (HIF): Front panel port on FEX, connecting to server. Virtual Interface (VIF): Logical construct consisting of a front panel port, VLAN, and several other parameters. Logical interface (LIF): Presentation of a front panel port in parent switch.

How do I find my Fex serial number?

One small issue I discovered is that the FEX will report two serial numbers: the chassis serial number (included in the “Serial” column of the show fex output) and the module serial number (listed as “Extender Serial” in the output of show fex detail ).

What is the difference between port channel and vPC?

Here you can see that Virtual Port channel (vPC) is configured using the interfaces of two switches. One of the key difference between the two technologies (port-channel and virtual port-channel ) is that port channels support both Layer 2 and Layer 3. vPC on the other hand only supports Layer 2.

Can you connect a switch to a Fex?

If you want to connect a switch to those port then you need to enable bpdu filter on the switch interface which connects to FEX. This will prevent any BPDU going from switch to FEX and hence it will work out for you.

What is dynamic pinning?

Dynamic pinning mode is based on a Port-Channel logic. In very basic scenario you would have all your physical uplinks associated with a single Port-Channel that will stay up as long as there is at least one working physical uplink. At first glance, difference seems to be obvious and not in the favor of Static mode.

What is Fex in Nexus?

FEX Technology enables a consistent enforcement of policies across the fabric and providing a single point of management from the parent switches, Cisco Nexus 5000, Nexus 6000 or Nexus 7000 switch. Architectural flexibility FEX Technology enables support for multiple architectures be it physical, virtual or cloud.

What is pinning in Nexus?

The static pinning feature allows groups of access interfaces to be bound to particular fabric (uplink) interfaces with the command pinning max-links . If a fabric interface fails, its pinned access interfaces are automatically shut down.

What is LACP and vPC?

Hello, lacp is just a negotiation protocol for bundling links from the same physical/logical switch to another host or switch. Vpc is a technology whereby it allows you to have two separate switches, providing one bundle to a switch or host.

What is VSS and vPC?

Introduction to VPC and VSS Both VPC and VSS are used basically to support multi-chassis ether-channel that means we can create a port-channel whose one end is device A, however, another end is physically connected to 2 different physical switches which logically appears to be one switch.

What is Fex in Nexus switch?

What is Fex in switch?

What Is Cisco FEX? A Cisco FEX is a companion to a Nexus 5000 or Nexus 7000 switch. That’s to say, when being connected to them, FEX thus become a logical part of the parent switch. A Cisco FEX has no management interface and has no capability to store a forwarding table or run any control plane protocols.

What is the use of Fex?

What is the difference between single-homed Fex and dual-homing Fex topology?

The single-homed FEX topology is well suited for servers with multiple NICs that support 802.3ad port channel. The dual-homed FEX topology is ideal for servers with one NIC, because the failure of one Cisco Nexus 5500 Series device does not bring down the FEX and does not cut the single NIC server out of the network.

What are the different types of Fex topologies?

FEX Topologies Single Homed Host and FEX (Static Pinning Mode) Design Single Homed Host and FEX (Port Channel Mode) Design Dual-Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Single Homed FEX (Static Pinning Mode) Design Dual-Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Single Homed FEX (Port Channel Mode) Design

What is single-homed topology?

Single-Homed Network A single-homed topology means that you have a single connection to only one ISP. With this set-up, one can use static/default routes provided by the ISP to handle all traffic destined for all outside networks. Additionally, the host can announce its public network and the ISP announces the default route to the host.

How to connect a multi-homing server to a pair of fexs?

If you need to connect a multi-homing server to a pair of FEXs when there is only one Cisco Nexus 5000 Series device, you have the option to run active or standby NIC teaming from the server. With Enhanced vPC, the port channel can be formed among ports from up to two FEXs that are connected to the same pair of Cisco Nexus 5000 Series devices.