Cisco Nexus 9372PX User manual

A Dell EMC Deployment and Configuration Guide
Cisco Nexus 9372PX
Switch Configuration Guide for Dell PS Series SANs
Dell EMC Engineering
June 2017

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Revisions
The information in this publication is provided “as is.” Dell Inc. makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the information in this
publication, and specifically disclaims implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Use, copying, and distribution of any software described in this publication requires an applicable software license.
© 2017 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell, EMC, Dell EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other
trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Dell believes the information in this document is accurate as of its publication date. The information is subject to change without notice.
Date
Description
June 2017
Initial release

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Table of contents
Revisions.............................................................................................................................................................................2
1Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Document conventions.......................................................................................................................................4
1.2 Audience.............................................................................................................................................................4
1.3 Switch details......................................................................................................................................................4
1.4 Cabling diagram..................................................................................................................................................5
2Dell EMC recommended switch configuration .............................................................................................................6
2.1 Hardware configuration ......................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Delete startup configuration................................................................................................................................6
2.3 Run the basic system configuration....................................................................................................................7
2.4 Enable LLDP.......................................................................................................................................................8
2.5 Disable Data Center Bridging (DCB)..................................................................................................................8
2.6 Configure the vPC domain .................................................................................................................................8
2.7 Configure the Port-Channel................................................................................................................................9
2.8 Enable Jumbo Frames on edge ports ................................................................................................................9
2.9 Enable link level flow control (802.3x) on edge ports.........................................................................................9
2.10 Configure portfast on edge ports......................................................................................................................10
2.11 Enable switch ports ..........................................................................................................................................10
2.12 Save configuration............................................................................................................................................10
2.13 Configure additional switch...............................................................................................................................10
ATechnical support and resources...............................................................................................................................11
A.1 Related resources ............................................................................................................................................11

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1 Introduction
This document illustrates how to configure a Cisco®Nexus 9372PX switch for use with Dell™PS Series
storage using Dell EMC best practices.
Note: For more information on PS Series SAN design recommendations, see the Dell PS Series
Configuration Guide.
1.1 Document conventions
Table 1 lists the formatting conventions used in this document.
Document conventions
Format
Description
Example
Bold
User input
Dell>enable
Italic
Placeholder or variable
ip address
Bold italic
User input (variable)
Dell>my password
<Italic> <brackets>
Separate variables
<ip address> <mask>
1.2 Audience
This switch configuration guide describes a verified configuration following Dell EMC best practices for a
dedicated PS Series iSCSI SAN and is intended for storage or network administrators and deployment
personnel.
1.3 Switch details
Table 2 provides an overview of the switch configuration.
Switch specifications
Cisco Nexus 9372PX
Switch vendor
Cisco
Switch model
Nexus 9372PX
Switch firmware
7.0(3)I5(2)
Note: For proper functionality, the switch must be at the firmware version shown in Table 2 before
proceeding with this configuration. Using previous firmware versions may have unpredictable results.
Note: The latest firmware updates and documentation can be found at: www.cisco.com. This site requires a
login credential.

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1.4 Cabling diagram
The cabling diagram shown in Figure 1 represents the method recommended by Dell EMC for deploying
servers and PS Series arrays.
Cabling diagram

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2 Dell EMC recommended switch configuration
Use the following steps to configure the Cisco Nexus 9372PX switch.
Note: The configuration steps in this section are only recommended when the switch is used as a dedicated
SAN for iSCSI traffic (not shared with LAN traffic).
2.1 Hardware configuration
1. Power on the chassis.
2. Connect a serial cable to the active supervisor management port.
3. Using PuTTY or another terminal utility, open a serial connection session to the switch.
4. Open a terminal emulator and configure it to use the serial port (usually COM1 but this may vary
depending on your system). Configure serial communications for 9600,N,8,1 and no flow control.
2.2 Delete startup configuration
Note: This example assumes a switch at its default configuration settings. Using the write erase
command will set the startup configuration file to its default settings. Always back up the configuration
settings prior to performing any configuration changes
switch#write erase
Warning: This command will erase the startup-configuration
Do you wish to proceed anyway ? (y/n) [n]y
switch#reload
This command will reboot the system
Do you want to continue? (y/n) [n]y
Note: The switch will reboot.

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2.3 Run the basic system configuration
The following steps use the setup utility to configure connectivity for basic management of the system.
After the switch fully reboots, the following prompts will appear:
Abort Power On Auto Provisioning and continue with normal setup ?(yes/no)[n]:y
---- System Admin Account Setup ----
Do you want to enforce secure password standard (yes/no):yes
Enter the password for "admin":my password
Confirm the password for "admin":my password
---- Basic System Configuration Dialog VDC: 1 ----
This setup utility will guide you through the basic configuration of
the system. Setup configures only enough connectivity for management
of the system.
Please register Cisco Nexus9000 Family devices promptly with your
supplier. Failure to register may affect response times for initial
service calls. Nexus9000 devices must be registered to receive
entitled support services.
Press Enter at anytime to skip a dialog. Use ctrl-c at anytime
to skip the remaining dialogs.
Would you like to enter the basic configuration dialog (yes/no):yes
Create another login account (yes/no) [n]:n
Configure read-only SNMP community string (yes/no) [n]:n
Configure read-write SNMP community string (yes/no) [n]:n
Enter the switch name :my switch name
Continue with Out-of-band (mgmt0) management configuration? (yes/no) [y]:y
Mgmt0 IPv4 address :my IP address
Mgmt0 IPv4 netmask :my netmask
Configure the default gateway? (yes/no) [y]:y
IPv4 address of the default gateway :my gateway
Configure advanced IP options? (yes/no) [n]:n
Enable the telnet service? (yes/no) [n]:y
Enable the ssh service? (yes/no) [y]:n
Configure the ntp server? (yes/no) [n]:n
Configure default interface layer (L3/L2) [L2]:L2
Configure default switchport interface state (shut/noshut) [noshut]:shut
Configure CoPP system profile (strict/moderate/lenient/dense) [strict]:

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The following configuration will be applied:
<Your settings will be displayed>
Would you like to edit the configuration? (yes/no) [n]:n
Use this configuration and save it? (yes/no) [y]:y
[########################################] 100%
Copy complete.
Log into the switch using the credentials created previously.
2.4 Enable LLDP
switch#config
switch(config)#feature lldp
switch(config)#interface ethernet 1/1-48
switch(config-if-range)#lldp receive
switch(config-if-range)#lldp transmit
switch(config-if-range)#exit
2.5 Disable Data Center Bridging (DCB)
All steps in this section are required in order to properly disable DCB.
Note: By default, DCB is enabled. This document provides steps to disable DCB. Perform all operations
during a maintenance window, because a temporary loss of communication between host servers and
storage arrays may occur.
switch(config)#lldp tlv-select dcbxp
switch(config)#copy running-config startup-config
switch(config)#no lldp tlv-select dcbxp
switch(config)#copy running-config startup-config
2.6 Configure the vPC domain
switch(config)#feature lacp
switch(config)#feature vpc
switch(config)#vpc domain 1
switch(config-vpc-domain)#peer-keepalive destination peer IP address
--------:: Management VRF will be used as the default VRF ::--------
switch(config-vpc-domain)#exit

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2.7 Configure the Port-Channel
switch(config)#interface port-channel 1
switch(config-if)#switchport mode trunk
switch(config-if)#spanning-tree port type network
switch(config-if)#vpc peer-link
switch(config-if)#mtu 9216
switch(config-if)#flowcontrol receive on
switch(config-if)#flowcontrol send on
switch(config-if)#exit
switch(config)#interface ethernet 1/49-50
switch(config-if)#switchport mode trunk
switch(config-if)#channel-group 1
switch(config-if)#mtu 9216
switch(config-if)#no shutdown
switch(config-if)#exit
2.8 Enable Jumbo Frames on edge ports
switch(config)#system jumbomtu 9216
switch(config)#interface ethernet 1/1-48
switch(config-if-range)#mtu 9216
2.9 Enable link level flow control (802.3x) on edge ports
Perform this step for each individual port that is connected to a storage controller or a host server interface
port, or specify a range of ports to configure.
switch(config-if-range)#priority-flow-control mode off
switch(config-if-range)#flowcontrol send off
switch(config-if-range)#flowcontrol receive on
switch(config-if-range)#exit
Note: Optionally, to reduce egress port packet drops, use the following command to enable the ultra-burst
feature mode:
switch(config)# hardware qos ns-buffer-profile ultra-burst

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2.10 Configure portfast on edge ports
switch(config)#interface ethernet 1/1-48
switch(config-if-range)#spanning-tree port type edge
Warning: edge port type (portfast) should only be enabled on ports connected to
a single host. Connecting hubs, concentrators, switches, bridges, etc… to this
interface when edge port type (portfast) is enabled, can cause temporary
bridging loops. Use with CAUTION.
Edge Port Type (Portfast) will be configured in 96 interfaces due to the range
commend but will only have effect when the interfaces are in a non-trunking
mode.
2.11 Enable switch ports
The following example enables a range of ports. If preferred, enable individual ports as needed.
switch(config-if-range)#shutdown
switch(config-if-range)#no shutdown
switch (config-if-range)#exit
switch(config)#exit
2.12 Save configuration
switch# copy running-config startup-config
switch# reload
2.13 Configure additional switch
Repeat the steps in sections 2.1 through 2.12 to configure the second switch.

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A Technical support and resources
Dell.com/support is focused on meeting customer needs with proven services and support.
Dell TechCenter is an online technical community where IT professionals have access to numerous resources
for Dell EMC software, hardware and services.
Storage Solutions Technical Documents on Dell TechCenter provide expertise that helps to ensure customer
success on Dell EMC Storage platforms.
A.1 Related resources
Referenced or recommended Dell EMC publications:
Dell PS Series Configuration Guide
Dell EMC Storage Compatibility Matrix