Breakout Ports

This chapter contains the following sections:

Configuration of Breakout Ports

Breakout cables are suitable for very short links and offer a cost effective way to connect within racks and across adjacent racks. Breakout enables a 40 Gigabit (Gb) port to be split into four independent and logical 10Gb ports, a 100Gb port to be split into four independent and logical 25Gb ports, or a 400Gb port to be split into four independent and logical 100Gb ports.

You configure breakout on the down links (also known as the access-facing ports or downlink ports) and fabric links of the switches. Fabric links form the connections between the leaf switches and spine switches, or between the tier 1 leaf switches and tier 2 leaf switches for a multi-tier topology.

You can configure breakout ports in the following ways:

  • You can use port profiles and selectors. With this method, you configure a breakout leaf port with an leaf interface profile, associate the profile with a switch, and configure the sub-ports.

  • Beginning with the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) 6.0(1) release, you can use the Fabric > Access Policies > Interface Configuration workflow.

  • You can use the Fabric > Inventory > pod > leaf_name workflow. Beginning with the Cisco APIC 6.0(1) release, the inventory view configuration also uses the interface configuration.

Guidelines and Limitations for Dynamic Breakout Ports on Down Links

The 40Gb to 10Gb dynamic breakout feature is supported on the access-facing ports of the following switches:

  • N9K-C93180LC-EX

  • N9K-C93180YC-FX

  • N9K-C9336C-FX2

  • N9K-C93360YC-FX2

  • N9K-C93216TC-FX2

  • N9K-C93108TC-FX3P

  • N9K-C93180YC-FX3

  • N9K-C93600CD-GX

  • N9K-C9364C-GX

  • N9K-C9408 (beginning in the 6.0(2) release)

  • N9K-C9348D-GX2A (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • N9K-C9364D-GX2A (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • N9K-C9332D-GX2B (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

The 100Gb to 25Gb breakout feature is supported on the access ports of the following switches:

  • N9K-C93180LC-EX

  • N9K-C9336C-FX2

  • N9K-C93180YC-FX

  • N9K-C93360YC-FX2

  • N9K-C93216TC-FX2

  • N9K-C93108TC-FX3P

  • N9K-C93180YC-FX3

  • N9K-C93600CD-GX

  • N9K-C9364C-GX

  • N9K-C9408 (beginning in the 6.0(2) release)

  • N9K-C9348D-GX2A (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • N9K-C9364D-GX2A (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • N9K-C9332D-GX2B (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

The 400Gb to 100Gb breakout feature is supported on the access ports of the following switches:

  • N9K-C9348D-GX2A

  • N9K-C9364D-GX2A

  • N9K-C9332D-GX2B

  • N9K-C93600CD-GX

  • N9K-C9316D-GX

  • N9K-C9408 (beginning in the 6.0(2) release)

  • Beginning with the 6.0(2) release, the QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD optic is supported on 400Gb ports. The peer node with the 100Gb speed must use QSFP-100G-SR1.2 optics.

  • Beginning with the 6.0(3) release, 400Gb-to-100Gb breakout using a QDD-4ZQ100 cable of any length is supported only with the following platforms:

    • N9K-C9332D-GX2B, N9K-C9348D-GX2A, N9K-C9364D-GX2A, N9K-C9316D-GX, and N9K-C93600CD-GX leaf and spine switches

    • N9K-X9716D-GX line card

  • The N9K-C9400-SW-GX2A switch supports 400Gb breakout with the N9K-X9400-8D line card expansion module and the peer 100G-PCC is supported with the N9K-X9400-8D and N9K-X9400-16W line card expansion modules.

  • QDD-400G-DR4-S, QDD-4X100G-FR-S, QDD-4X100G-LR-S optics are supported on 400Gb ports. The peer node with the 100Gb speed can use the following optics:

    • QSFP-100G-DR-S

    • QSFP-100G-FR-S

    • QSFP-100G-LR-S

Before you configure breakout ports, connect a 40Gb port to four 10Gb ports, a 100Gb port to four 25Gb ports, or a 400Gb port to four 100Gb ports with one of the following cables:

  • Cisco QSFP-4SFP10G

    Beginning in the 6.0(3) release, GX2 switches support this direct-attach cable.

  • Cisco QSFP-4SFP25G

    Beginning in the 6.0(3) release, GX2 switches support this direct-attach cable.

  • Cisco QSFP-4X10G-AOC

    Beginning in the 6.0(3) release, GX2 switches support this direct-attach cable.

  • Cisco QDD-4ZQ100-CU (1M, 2M, 2.5M, and 3M) (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • MPO to breakout splitter cable with QSFP-40G-SR4 and 4 x SFP-10G-SR on the ends

  • MPO to breakout splitter cable with QSFP-100G-SR4-S and 4 x SFP-25G-SR-S on the ends

  • MPO to breakout splitter cable with QDD-400G-DR4-S, QDD-4X100G-FR-S, or QDD-4X100G-LR-S, and 4 x QSFP-100G-DR-S, 4 x QSFP-100G-FR-S, or 4 x QSFP-100G-LR-S on the ends

  • MPO to breakout splitter cable with QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD and 4 x QSFP-100G-SR1.2 on the ends.


Note

For the supported optics and cables, see the Cisco Optics-to-Device Compatibility Matrix:

https://tmgmatrix.cisco.com/

Observe the following guidelines and limitations:

  • Breakout ports are supported on both down links and converted down links.

  • The following switches support dynamic breakouts (both 100Gb and 40Gb) on profiled QSFP ports:

    • Cisco N9K-C93180YC-FX

    • Cisco N9K-C93216TC-FX2

    • Cisco N9K-C93360YC-FX2

    • Cisco N9K-C93600CD-GX

      This applies only to ports 1/25 to 34. Ports 1/29 to 34 can be used for dynamic breakouts if the ports are converted to down links.

    • Cisco N9K-C9336C-FX2

      You can configure up to 34 dynamic breakouts.

    • Cisco N9K-C9364C-GX

      You can configure up to 30 dynamic breakouts on odd-numbered profiled QSFP ports from 1/1 to 59.

    • Cisco N9K-93600CD-GX

      You can configure up to 12 dynamic breakouts out of 24 40/100G ports and up to 10 dynamic breakouts out of ports 25 to 34. Ports 29 to 34 can be breakouts if the ports are converted to down links. The last 2 ports (ports 35 and 36) are reserved for fabric links.

    • Cisco N9K-C9400-SW-GX2A with the Cisco N9K-X9400-16W linecard

      You can configure breakouts on odd-numbered profiled QSFP ports.

  • The Cisco N9K-C9336C-FX2 switch supports LACP fast hello on the breakout sub-port.

  • Breakout ports cannot be used for Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) connectivity.

  • Dynamic breakout configuration on spine switch interfaces is not supported.

  • Fast Link Failover policies are not supported on the same port with the dynamic breakout feature.

  • Breakout subports can be used in the same way other port types in the policy model are used.

  • When a port is enabled for dynamic breakout, other policies (except monitoring policies) on the parent port are no longer valid.

  • When a port is enabled for dynamic breakout, other EPG deployments on the parent port are no longer valid.

  • A breakout sub-port can not be further broken out using a breakout policy group.

  • Dynamic breakout or breakout of a 400Gb port to four 100Gb ports configured using a Cisco APIC policy is supported on QDD-4X100G-FR-S and QDD-4X100G-LR-S optics.

  • A breakout sub-port supports LACP. The LACP transmit rate configuration defined in the "default" port channel member policy is used by default. The LACP transmit rate can be changed by either changing the "default" port channel member policy or using an override policy group on each PC/vPC interface policy group.

  • Deleting the port profile policy on an already broken out port will clean up the breakout configuration and bring the port back up in the native direction upon switch reload.

  • If the LACP transmit rate on port channels that have breakout sub-ports need to be changed, then all the port channels that include breakout sub-ports need to use the same LACP transmit rate configuration. You can configure an override policy to set the transmit rate as follows:

    1. Configure/change the default port channel member policy to include Fast Transmit Rate (Fabric > Access Policies > Policies > Interface > Port Channel Member).

    2. Configure all the PC/vPC interface policy groups to include the above default port channel member policy under the override policy groups (Fabric > Access Policies > Interfaces > Leaf Interfaces > Policy Groups > PC/vPC Interface).

  • The following guidelines and limitations apply to the Cisco N9K-C9364C-GX switch:

    • Odd numbered ports (on rows 1 and row 3) support breakout. Adjacent even numbered ports (on row 2 or row 4) will be disabled ("hw-disabled"). This is applicable to ports 1/1 to 60.

    • The last 2 ports (1/63 and 64) are reserved for fabric links.

    • Ports 1/61 and 62 can be converted to down links, but breakout is not supported. Breakout ports and 40/100G non-breakout ports cannot be mixed in a set of 4 ports starting from 1/1, such as 1/1 to 4 or 1/5 to 8.

      For example, if port 1/1 is breakout enabled, port 1/3 can be used with breakout enabled or native 10G. Port 1/3 will be error-disabled if it is 40/100G.

    • The maximum number of down links are 30 x 4 ports 10/25 (breakout) + 2 ports (1/61 and 62) = 122 ports. Ports 1/63 and 64 are reserved for fabric links and even numbered ports from 1/2 to 60 are error-disabled.

    • This switch supports 10G with QSA on all ports. Native 10G requires QSA.

  • The following guidelines and limitations apply to the Cisco N9K-93600CD-GX switch:

    • Odd numbered ports (all ports on row 1) support breakout. Even numbered ports on row 2 will be disabled ("hw-disabled"). This is applicable only to ports 1 to 24.

    • Breakout and 40/100G non-breakout cannot be mixed in a set of 4 ports starting from 1/1 until 1/24, such as 1/1 to 4 or 1/5 to 8. For example:

      • For ports 1/1 to 24, you can have 4 ports per set.

        For example, if port 1/1 is breakout enabled, port 1/3 can be used with breakout enabled or native 10G. Port 1/3 will be error-disabled if it is 40/100G.

      • For ports 1/25 to 28, you can have 2 ports per set.

        For example, even if port 1/25 is breakout enabled, port 1/27 can be used with 40/100G.

    • The maximum number of down links are 12 x 4 ports 10/25G (breakout) + 10 x 4 ports 10/25G (breakout) = 88 ports. Ports 35 and 36 are reserved for fabric links and 12 ports are disabled.

    • This switch supports 10G with QSA on all ports. Native 10G requires QSA.

Guidelines and Limitations for Auto Breakout Ports on Fabric Links

When you insert a transceiver into a line card on which breakout is supported, the ports become broken out automatically. You do not need to configure breakout manually.

The 400Gb to 100Gb breakout feature is supported on the fabric ports of the following line card:

  • N9K-X9716D-GX with the QDD-4X100G-FR-S, QDD-4X100G-LR-S, or QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD transceiver

The 400Gb to 100Gb breakout feature is supported on the fabric ports of the following switches:

  • N9K-C9348D-GX2A

  • N9K-C9364D-GX2A

  • N9K-C9332D-GX2B

  • N9K-C93600CD-GX

  • N9K-C9316D-GX

  • N9K-C9408 (beginning in the 6.0(2) release)

  • Beginning with the 6.0(2) release, the QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD optic is supported on 400Gb ports. The peer node with the 100Gb speed must use QSFP-100G-SR1.2 optics.

  • Beginning with the 6.0(3) release, 400Gb-to-100Gb breakout using a QDD-4ZQ100 cable of any length is supported only with the following platforms:

    • N9K-C9332D-GX2B, N9K-C9348D-GX2A, N9K-C9364D-GX2A, N9K-C9316D-GX, and N9K-C93600CD-GX leaf and spine switches

    • N9K-X9716D-GX line card

  • The N9K-C9400-SW-GX2A switch supports 400Gb breakout with the N9K-X9400-8D line card expansion module and the peer 100G-PCC is supported with the N9K-X9400-8D and N9K-X9400-16W line card expansion modules.

  • QDD-4X100G-FR-S and QDD-4X100G-LR-S optics are supported on 400Gb ports. The peer node with the 100Gb speed can use the following optics:

    • QSFP-100G-DR-S

    • QSFP-100G-FR-S

    • QSFP-100G-LR-S

Connect the ports with one of the following cables:

  • Cisco QDD-4ZQ100-CU (1M, 2M, 2.5M, and 3M) (beginning in the 6.0(3) release)

  • MPO to 4xLC breakout splitter cable with QDD-4X100G-FR-S or QDD-4X100G-LR-S and 4 x QSFP-100G-DR-S, 4 x QSFP-100G-FR-S, or 4 x QSFP-100G-LR-S on the ends

  • MPO to breakout splitter cable with QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD and 4 x QSFP-100G-SR1.2 on the ends.

Observe the following general guidelines and limitations:

  • Deleting the port profile policy on an already broken out port will clean up the breakout configuration and bring the port back up in the native direction upon switch reload.

Observe the following guidelines and limitations for 400G to 4x100G breakout on fabric links:

  • To change a fabric port with a QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD optic from non-breakout to breakout, you must remove the transceiver, connect the breakout cable to the transceiver, then reinsert the transceiver.

  • GX2 switches support the following switch to switch connectivity:

    • Spine switch-to-leaf switch

    • Leaf switch-to-spine switch

    • Leaf switch-to-leaf switch (multi-tier)

  • GX line cards support the following switch to switch connectivity:

    • Spine switch to leaf switch

  • Spine switch-to-spine switch breakout is not supported.

  • Spine switch-to-IPN or ISN breakout is supported with the QDD-4X100G-FR-S or QDD-4X100G-LR-S optic on the spine switch.

  • Spine switch-to-IPN or ISN breakout is supported with the QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD optic on the spine switch and the QSFP-100G-SR1.2 optic on the IPN or ISN side.

  • For spine switch-to-IPN or ISN with the QDD-400G-SR4.2-BD optic on both the sides (the spine switch and on the IPN/ISN side), the link does not come up.

  • If you downgrade to a release that does not support breakout for the given hardware and ports, the breakout ports will become not broken out and the links will be down. If all connections between a spine and leaf switch are only breakout, then upon downgrading to a release that does not support breakout, the links will go down and the node will be out of the fabric.

  • If you remove an SFP transceiver from a switch, you must wait at least 15 seconds before re-adding the transceiver.

  • With the Cisco Nexus 9300 GX2 series or Cisco N9K-X9716D-GX line cards, ports will not come up if an optic is replaced while the line card is powered off. For example:

    1. You have a Cisco N9K-X9716D-GX line card in slot 4 with a 4x100-FR-S transceiver inserted in a port (for example, port 8). Port 8 is in broken out into four ports (Eth4/8/1-4) due to the auto-breakout feature that automatically activates when a 4x100-FR-S transceiver is inserted.

    2. You power off the line card in slot 4.

    3. While the line card is powered off, you remove the 4x100G-FR-S optic from port 8 and insert another optics other than the 4x100G-FR-S.

    4. You power on the line card in slot 4. Port Eth4/8 will not come up even after connecting it with any compatible port and transceiver combination on the peer end.

Configuring Breakout Ports With Profiles and Selectors Using the GUI

This procedure uses port profiles and selectors to configure breakout ports. You configure a breakout leaf port with an leaf interface profile, associate the profile with a switch, and configure the sub-ports.

Before you begin

  • The Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) fabric is installed, the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controllers (APICs) are online, and the Cisco APIC cluster is formed and healthy.

  • A Cisco APIC fabric administrator account is available that can configure the breakout ports.

  • The target leaf switches are registered in the Cisco ACI fabric and available.

  • The 40GE or 100GE leaf switch ports are connected with Cisco breakout cables to the downlink ports.

Procedure

Step 1

On the menu bar, choose Fabric > Access Policies.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, expand Interfaces and Leaf Interfaces and Profiles.

Step 3

Right-click Profiles and choose Create Leaf Interface Profile.

Step 4

Type the name and optional description, click the + symbol on Interface Selectors

Step 5

Perform the following:

  1. Type a name (and optional description) for the Access Port Selector.

  2. In the Interface IDs field, type the slot and port for the breakout port.

  3. In the Interface Policy Group field, click the down arrow and choose Create Leaf Breakout Port Group.

  4. Type the name (and optional description) for the Leaf Breakout Port Group.

  5. In the Breakout Map field, choose 10g-4x or 25g-4x.

    For a list of the switches that support breakout, see Configuration of Breakout Ports.

  6. Click Submit.

Step 6

To assign a Breakout Port to an EPG, perform the following steps:

On the menu bar, choose Tenant > Application Profiles > Application EPG. Right-click on Application EPG to open Create Application EPGdialog box, and perform the following steps:

  1. Select the Statically Link with Leaves/Paths check box to gain access to the Leaves/Paths tab in the dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following sets of steps:

Option Description
If you want to deploy the EPG on... Then
A node

  1. Expand the Leaves area.

  2. From the Node drop-down list, choose a node.

  3. In the Encap field, enter the appropriate VLAN.

  4. (Optional) From the Deployment Immediacy drop-down list, accept the default On Demand or choose Immediate.

  5. (Optional) From the Mode drop-down list, accept the default Trunk or choose another mode.

A port on the node

  1. Expand the Paths area.

  2. From the Path drop-down list, choose the appropriate node and port.

  3. (Optional) In the Deployment Immediacy field drop-down list, accept the default On Demand or choose Immediate.

  4. (Optional) From the Mode drop-down list, accept the default Trunk or choose another mode.

  5. In the Port Encap field, enter the secondary VLAN to be deployed.

  6. (Optional) In the Primary Encap field, enter the primary VLAN to be deployed.

Step 7

To associate the Leaf Interface Profile to a the leaf switch, perform the following steps:

  1. Expand Switches and Leaf Switches, and Profiles.

  2. Right-click Profiles and select Create Leaf Profiles.

  3. Type the name and optional description of the Leaf Profile.

  4. Click the + symbol on the Leaf Selectors area.

  5. Type the leaf selector name and an optional description.

  6. Click the down arrow on the Blocks field and choose the switch to be associated with the breakout leaf interface profile.

  7. Click the down arrow on the Policy Group field and choose Create Access Switch Policy Group.

  8. Type a name and optional description for the Access Switch Policy Group.

  9. Optional. Enable other policies.

  10. Click Submit.

  11. Click Update.

  12. Click Next.

  13. In the Associations Interface Selector Profiles area, choose the Interface Selector Profile you previously created for the breakout port.

  14. Click Finish.

Step 8

To verify the breakout port has been split into four sub ports, perform the following steps:

  1. On the Menu bar, click Fabric > Inventory.

  2. On the Navigation bar, click the Pod and Leaf where the breakout port is located.

  3. Expand Interfaces and Physical Interfaces.

    You should see four ports at the position where the breakout port was configured. For example, if you configured 1/10 as a breakout port, you should see the following:

    • eth1/10/1

    • eth1/10/2

    • eth1/10/3

    • eth1/10/4

Step 9

To configure the sub ports, perform the following steps:

  1. On the Menu bar, click Fabric > Access Policies.

  2. On the Navigation bar, expand Interfaces, Leaf Interfaces, Profiles, and the breakout leaf interface profile you previously created.

    You will see a port selector with the breakout cable. Instead of defining a sub port block under already existing port selector, you need to define on a new access port selector.

  3. On the Navigtion bar, right click the higher level interface profile and select Create Access Port Selector.

  4. In the Name field, enter the sub port name.

  5. In the Interface IDs field, enter the IDs for the four sub ports in a format such as 1/10/1-4.

  6. In the Interface Policy Group field, select Create Leaf Access Port Policy Group.

  7. Click Submit.

Step 10

To apply the Policy Group to an individual interface that links the AAEP to the port, perform the following steps:

  1. In the Name field, enter the name for the Leaf Access Port Group Policy.

  2. In the Link Level Policy field, select link-level_auto.

  3. In the CDP Policy field, select cdp_enabled.

  4. In the LLDP Policy field, select default.

  5. In the Attached Entity Profile field, select the AAEP profile to attach to the policy group.

  6. Click Submit.

Configuring Breakout Ports With Profiles and Selectors Using the GUI

This procedure uses port profiles and selectors to configure breakout ports. You configure a breakout leaf port with an leaf interface profile, associate the profile with a switch, and configure the sub-ports.

Before you begin

  • The Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) fabric is installed, the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controllers (APICs) are online, and the Cisco APIC cluster is formed and healthy.

  • A Cisco APIC fabric administrator account is available that can configure the breakout ports.

  • The target leaf switches are registered in the Cisco ACI fabric and available.

  • The 40GE or 100GE leaf switch ports are connected with Cisco breakout cables to the downlink ports.

Procedure

Step 1

On the menu bar, choose Fabric > Access Policies.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, expand Interfaces and Leaf Interfaces and Profiles.

Step 3

Right-click Profiles and choose Create Leaf Interface Profile.

Step 4

Type the name and optional description, click the + symbol on Interface Selectors

Step 5

Perform the following:

  1. Type a name (and optional description) for the Access Port Selector.

  2. In the Interface IDs field, type the slot and port for the breakout port.

  3. In the Interface Policy Group field, click the down arrow and choose Create Leaf Breakout Port Group.

  4. Type the name (and optional description) for the Leaf Breakout Port Group.

  5. In the Breakout Map field, choose 10g-4x or 25g-4x.

    For a list of the switches that support breakout, see Configuration of Breakout Ports.

  6. Click Submit.

Step 6

To assign a Breakout Port to an EPG, perform the following steps:

On the menu bar, choose Tenant > Application Profiles > Application EPG. Right-click on Application EPG to open Create Application EPGdialog box, and perform the following steps:

  1. Select the Statically Link with Leaves/Paths check box to gain access to the Leaves/Paths tab in the dialog box.

  2. Complete one of the following sets of steps:

Option Description
If you want to deploy the EPG on... Then
A node

  1. Expand the Leaves area.

  2. From the Node drop-down list, choose a node.

  3. In the Encap field, enter the appropriate VLAN.

  4. (Optional) From the Deployment Immediacy drop-down list, accept the default On Demand or choose Immediate.

  5. (Optional) From the Mode drop-down list, accept the default Trunk or choose another mode.

A port on the node

  1. Expand the Paths area.

  2. From the Path drop-down list, choose the appropriate node and port.

  3. (Optional) In the Deployment Immediacy field drop-down list, accept the default On Demand or choose Immediate.

  4. (Optional) From the Mode drop-down list, accept the default Trunk or choose another mode.

  5. In the Port Encap field, enter the secondary VLAN to be deployed.

  6. (Optional) In the Primary Encap field, enter the primary VLAN to be deployed.

Step 7

To associate the Leaf Interface Profile to a the leaf switch, perform the following steps:

  1. Expand Switches and Leaf Switches, and Profiles.

  2. Right-click Profiles and select Create Leaf Profiles.

  3. Type the name and optional description of the Leaf Profile.

  4. Click the + symbol on the Leaf Selectors area.

  5. Type the leaf selector name and an optional description.

  6. Click the down arrow on the Blocks field and choose the switch to be associated with the breakout leaf interface profile.

  7. Click the down arrow on the Policy Group field and choose Create Access Switch Policy Group.

  8. Type a name and optional description for the Access Switch Policy Group.

  9. Optional. Enable other policies.

  10. Click Submit.

  11. Click Update.

  12. Click Next.

  13. In the Associations Interface Selector Profiles area, choose the Interface Selector Profile you previously created for the breakout port.

  14. Click Finish.

Step 8

To verify the breakout port has been split into four sub ports, perform the following steps:

  1. On the Menu bar, click Fabric > Inventory.

  2. On the Navigation bar, click the Pod and Leaf where the breakout port is located.

  3. Expand Interfaces and Physical Interfaces.

    You should see four ports at the position where the breakout port was configured. For example, if you configured 1/10 as a breakout port, you should see the following:

    • eth1/10/1

    • eth1/10/2

    • eth1/10/3

    • eth1/10/4

Step 9

To configure the sub ports, perform the following steps:

  1. On the Menu bar, click Fabric > Access Policies.

  2. On the Navigation bar, expand Interfaces, Leaf Interfaces, Profiles, and the breakout leaf interface profile you previously created.

    You will see a port selector with the breakout cable. Instead of defining a sub port block under already existing port selector, you need to define on a new access port selector.

  3. On the Navigtion bar, right click the higher level interface profile and select Create Access Port Selector.

  4. In the Name field, enter the sub port name.

  5. In the Interface IDs field, enter the IDs for the four sub ports in a format such as 1/10/1-4.

  6. In the Interface Policy Group field, select Create Leaf Access Port Policy Group.

  7. Click Submit.

Step 10

To apply the Policy Group to an individual interface that links the AAEP to the port, perform the following steps:

  1. In the Name field, enter the name for the Leaf Access Port Group Policy.

  2. In the Link Level Policy field, select link-level_auto.

  3. In the CDP Policy field, select cdp_enabled.

  4. In the LLDP Policy field, select default.

  5. In the Attached Entity Profile field, select the AAEP profile to attach to the policy group.

  6. Click Submit.

Configuring Breakout Ports With the Interface Configuration Using the GUI

Beginning with the Cisco Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) 6.0(1) release, you can use the Fabric > Access Policies > Interface Configuration workflow to configure breakout ports.

Before you begin

  • The Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) fabric is installed, the Cisco APICs are online, and the Cisco APIC cluster is formed and healthy.

  • A Cisco APIC fabric administrator account is available that can configure the breakout ports.

  • The target leaf switches are registered in the Cisco ACI fabric and available.

  • The 40GE or 100GE leaf switch ports are connected with Cisco breakout cables to the downlink ports.

Procedure

Step 1

On the menu bar, choose Fabric > Access Policies.

Step 2

In the Navigation pane, choose Interface Configuration.

Step 3

In the Work pane, choose Actions > Breakout.

Step 4

In the Breakout page, perform the following substeps:

  1. For Node, click Select Node, put a check in the box for the desired switch (node), then click OK. You can select multiple switches.

  2. For Interfaces For All Switches, enter the range of desired interfaces.

  3. For Breakout Map, choose the desired breakout type.

  4. Click Save.

Configuring Dynamic Breakout Ports Using the NX-OS Style CLI

Use the following steps to configure a breakout port, verify the configuration, and configure an EPG on a sub port, using the NX-OS style CLI.

Before you begin

  • The ACI fabric is installed, APIC controllers are online, and the APIC cluster is formed and healthy.

  • An APIC fabric administrator account is available that will enable creating the necessary fabric infrastructure configurations.

  • The target leaf switches are registered in the ACI fabric and available.

  • The 40GE or 100GE leaf switch ports are connected with Cisco breakout cables to the downlink ports.

SUMMARY STEPS

  1. configure
  2. leaf ID
  3. interface ethernetslot/port
  4. breakout10g-4x | 25g-4x
  5. show run
  6. tenant tenant-name
  7. vrf context vrf-name
  8. bridge-domain bridge-domain-name
  9. vrf member vrf-name
  10. application application-profile-name
  11. epg epg-name
  12. bridge-domain member bridge-domain-name
  13. leaf leaf-name
  14. speed interface-speed
  15. show run

DETAILED STEPS

  Command or Action Purpose

Step 1

configure

Example:

apic1# configure

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

leaf ID

Example:

apic1(config)# leaf 101

Selects the leaf switch where the breakout port will be located and enters leaf configuration mode.

Step 3

interface ethernetslot/port

Example:

apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16

Identifies the interface to be enabled as a 40 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) breakout port.

Step 4

breakout10g-4x | 25g-4x

Example:

apic1(config-leaf-if)# breakout 10g-4x

Enables the selected interface for breakout.

Note

 

For switch support for the Dynamic Breakout Port feature, see Configuration of Breakout Ports.

Step 5

show run

Example:

apic1(config-leaf-if)# show run
# Command: show running-config leaf 101 interface ethernet 1 / 16
# Time: Fri Dec  2 18:13:39 2016
  leaf 101 
    interface ethernet 1/16
      breakout 10g-4x
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit
apic1(config-leaf)# exit

Verifies the configuration by showing the running configuration of the interface and returns to global configuration mode.

Step 6

tenant tenant-name

Example:

apic1(config)# tenant tenant64

Selects or creates the tenant that will consume the breakout ports and enters tenant configuration mode.

Step 7

vrf context vrf-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant)# vrf context vrf64
apic1(config-tenant-vrf)# exit

Creates or identifies the Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instance associated with the tenant and exits the configuration mode.

Step 8

bridge-domain bridge-domain-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant)# bridge-domain bd64

Creates or identifies the bridge-domain associated with the tenant and enters BD configuration mode.

Step 9

vrf member vrf-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant-bd)# vrf member vrf64
apic1(config-tenant-bd)# exit

Associates the VRF with the bridge-domain and exits the configuration mode.

Step 10

application application-profile-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant)# application app64

Creates or identifies the application profile associated with the tenant and the EPG.

Step 11

epg epg-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant)# epg epg64

Creates or identifies the EPG and enters into EPG configuration mode.

Step 12

bridge-domain member bridge-domain-name

Example:

apic1(config-tenant-app-epg)# bridge-domain member bd64
apic1(config-tenant-app-epg)# exit
apic1(config-tenant-app)# exit
apic1(config-tenant)# exit

Associates the EPG with the bridge domain and returns to global configuration mode.

Configure the sub ports as desired, for example, use the speed command in leaf interface mode to configure a sub port.

Step 13

leaf leaf-name

Example:


apic1(config)# leaf 1017
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/13
apic1(config-leaf-if)# vlan-domain member dom1
apic1(config-leaf-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 20 tenant t1 application AP1 epg EPG1

Note

 

The vlan-domain and vlan-domain member commands mentioned in the above example are a pre-requisite for deploying an EPG on a port.

Associates the EPG with a break-out port.

Step 14

speed interface-speed

Example:


apic1(config)# leaf 101
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16/1
apic1(config-leaf-if)# speed 10G
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit

Enters leaf interface mode, sets the speed of an interface, and exits the configuration mode.

Step 15

show run

Example:

apic1(config-leaf)# show run

After you have configured the sub ports, entering this command in leaf configuration mode displays the sub port details.

The port on leaf 101 at interface 1/16 is confirmed enabled for breakout with sub ports 1/16/1, 1/16/2, 1/16/3, and 1/16/4.

Example

This example configures the port for breakout:

apic1# configure
apic1(config)# leaf 101
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16
apic1(config-leaf-if)# breakout 10g-4x

This example configures the EPG for the sub ports.

apic1(config)# tenant tenant64
apic1(config-tenant)# vrf context vrf64
apic1(config-tenant-vrf)# exit
apic1(config-tenant)# bridge-domain bd64
apic1(config-tenant-bd)# vrf member vrf64
apic1(config-tenant-bd)# exit
apic1(config-tenant)# application app64
apic1(config-tenant-app)# epg epg64
apic1(config-tenant-app-epg)# bridge-domain member bd64
apic1(config-tenant-app-epg)# end

This example sets the speed for the breakout sub ports to 10G.

apic1(config)# leaf 101
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16/1
apic1(config-leaf-if)# speed 10G
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit                                                                          
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16/2
apic1(config-leaf-if)# speed 10G
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16/3
apic1(config-leaf-if)# speed 10G
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit
apic1(config-leaf)# interface ethernet 1/16/4
apic1(config-leaf-if)# speed 10G
apic1(config-leaf-if)# exit

This example shows the four sub ports connected to leaf 101, interface 1/16.

apic1#(config-leaf)# show run
# Command: show running-config leaf 101
# Time: Fri Dec  2 00:51:08 2016
  leaf 101 
    interface ethernet 1/16/1
      speed 10G
      negotiate auto
      link debounce time 100
      exit
    interface ethernet 1/16/2
      speed 10G
      negotiate auto
      link debounce time 100
      exit
    interface ethernet 1/16/3
      speed 10G
      negotiate auto
      link debounce time 100
      exit
    interface ethernet 1/16/4
      speed 10G
      negotiate auto
      link debounce time 100
      exit
    interface ethernet 1/16
      breakout 10g-4x
      exit
    interface vfc 1/16