Validate Nexus 2000 Fabric Extenders Supported/Unsupported Topologies

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Updated:May 2, 2023
Document ID:200363

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    Introduction

    This document describes various topologies supported when Nexus 2000 Fabric Extender (FEX) switches are connected to parent switches or to end hosts.

    Background Information

    It is strongly recommended to always cross reference this document with the Cisco NX-OS specific release notes in order to avoid any confusion.

    Terminology

    Static Pinning Mode or Port Channel Mode

    Cisco Nexus 2000 Series NX-OS Fabric Extender Software Configuration Guide for Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches, Release 4.0 provides the details and more information.

    Active-Active FEX (FEX-AA)

    A FEX that is connected to both Virtual Port Channel (VPC) peers via port channel.

    Active/Standby Host

    A host that has one Network Interface Card (NIC) in active mode and the other in standby mode.

    Active/Active Host

    A host that has both NICs in active mode.

    FEX Topologies

    You can see a simplified representation of various topologies that correspond to platform support. This document does not cover any configuration steps.

    The release notes per platform/NX-OS version can override the information on this page.

    Single Homed Host and FEX (Static Pinning Mode) Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Single Homed Host and FEX (Static Pinning Mode) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Single Homed Host and FEX (Port Channel Mode) Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Single Homed Host and FEX (Port Channel Mode) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Supported

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

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Dual-Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Single Homed FEX (Static Pinning Mode) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

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

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Dual-Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Single Homed FEX (Port Channel Mode) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported*
    Nexus 9K Any Supported

    * With single and two VDCs.

    Host VPC (Single Link) and FEX Single Homed (Static Pinning Mode) Straight Through Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host VPC (Single Link) and FEX Single Homed (Static Pinning Mode) Straight Through Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Host VPC (Single Link) and FEX Single Homed (Port Channel Mode) Straight Through Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host VPC (Single Link) and FEX Single Homed (Port Channel Mode) Straight Through Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported*
    Nexus 9K Any Supported

    * With host interface (HIF) in port channel mode.

    Single Homed Host and Active-Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Single Homed Host and Active/Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported*
    Nexus 9K Any Supported**

    * Supported in Release 7.2 and later.

    ** Supported in Release 7.0(3)I5(2) and later. Support is for N93XX models only as listed in the release notes.

    ** FEX vPC is not supported between any model of FEX and the Cisco Nexus 9500 platform switches as the parent switches.

    Dual Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Active-Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Dual-Homed Host (Active/Standby) and Active/Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K any Supported
    Nexus 6K any Supported
    Nexus 7K any Supported*
    Nexus 9K any Supported**

    * Supported in Release 7.2 and later.

    ** Supported in Release 7.0(3)I5(2) and later. Support is for N93XX models only as listed in the release notes.

    ** FEX vPC is not supported between any model of FEX and the Cisco Nexus 9500 platform switches as the parent switches.

    Host VPC (Dual Links) and FEX Single Homed (Static Pinning Mode) Straight Through VPC Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host VPC (Dual Links) and FEX Single Homed (Static Pinning Mode) Straight Through VPC Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Host VPC (Dual Links) and FEX Single Homed (Port Channel Mode) Straight Through VPC Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host VPC (Dual Links) and FEX Single Homed (Port Channel Mode) Straight Through VPC Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Supported

    Host VPC (Single Link) and Active-Active FEX with FEX HIF VPC PO (Enhanced VPC) Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host VPC (Single Link) and Active/Active FEX (Enhanced VPC) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Host Port Channel and Active-Active FEX Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Host Port Channel and Active/Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Supported*
    Nexus 9K Any Supported**

    * Support introduced from Release 7.x.

    ** Supported in Release 7.0(3)I5(2) and later. Support is for N93XX models only as listed in the release notes.

    ** FEX vPC is not supported between any model of FEX and the Cisco Nexus 9500 platform switches as the parent switches.

    Dual Homed Host (Active/Active) and Active-Active FEX  Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Dual Homed Host (Active/Active) and Active-Active FEX (VPC) Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Single Parent Nexus Switch: Host VPC and FEX Single Homed Straight Through Design

    Nexus 2000 FEX Topologies - Single Parent Nexus Switch: Host VPC and FEX Single Homed Straight Through Design

    Platform Code Comment
    Nexus 5K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 6K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 7K Any Not Supported
    Nexus 9K Any Not Supported

    Summary

    The listed topologies are to validate any specific design options that you plan to implement.

    Related Information

    Revision History

    Revision Publish Date Comments
    3.0
    02-May-2023
    Updated Title, Introduction, Machine Translation, Gerunds, SEO, Style Requirements and Formatting. Added Background Information section.
    2.0
    07-Jan-2022
    Updated the Host VPC (Single Link) and FEX Single Homed (Static Pinning Mode) Straight Through Design section.
    1.0
    16-Oct-2017
    Initial Release
    TAC Authored

    Contributed by Cisco Engineers

    • Rajesh Gatti
      Cisco TAC Engineer

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