Understanding SAN Fabrics, Release 12.1.3

 
Updated August 23, 2023
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New and Changed Information

The following table provides an overview of the significant changes up to this current release. The table does not provide an exhaustive list of all changes or of the new features up to this release.

Release Version Feature Description

NDFC release 12.1.3

Reorganized content

Content within this document was originally provided in the Cisco NDFC-Fabric Controller Configuration Guide or the Cisco NDFC-SAN Controller Configuration Guide. Beginning with release 12.1.3, this content is now provided solely in this document and is no longer provided in those documents.

Fabric Summary

Click on a fabric to open the side kick panel. The following sections display the summary of the fabric:

  • Health - Shows the health of the Fabric.

  • Alarms - Displays the alarms based on the categories.

  • Fabric Info - Provides basic about the Fabric.

  • Inventory - Provides information about Switch Configuration and Switch Health.

Click the Launch icon to the right top corner to view the Fabric Overview.

Fabrics

From Release 12.0.1a, SAN Controller allows you to create SAN Fabrics.

The following table describes the fields that appear on SAN Controller > SAN > Fabrics > Fabrics.

Field Description

Fabric Name

Specifies the name of the fabric.

Seed Switch

Specifies the seed switch used to discover switches in the fabric.

State

Specifies the state of the fabric.

SNMPv3/SSH

Specifies if SNMP and SSH access is allowed.

User/Community

Specifies the role of the user who created the fabric.

Auth/Privacy

Displays the authentication type.

Licensed

Specifies if all the switches in the fabric are licensed or not.

Health

Displays the health of the fabric.

Performance Collection

Specifies if performance collection is enabled or disabled on the fabric.

Updated Time

Specifies the time when the fabric was created or updated.

Incl. VSANS

Specifies the VSANS included with the fabric.

Excl. VSANS

Specifies the excluded VSANS.

The following table describes the action items, in the Actions menu drop-down list, that appear on SAN > Fabrics > Fabrics.

Action Item Description

Add Fabric

From the Actions drop-down list, select Add Fabric. For more instructions, see Adding a Fabric.

Edit Fabrics

Select a fabric to edit. From the Actions drop-down list, select Edit Fabrics. Make the necessary changes and click Apply. For more instructions, see Editing a Fabric.

Delete Fabrics

Select one or more fabrics to delete. From the Actions drop-down list, select Delete Fabrics. Click Confirm to delete the fabrics. For more instructions, see Deleting a Fabric.

Rediscover Fabrics

Allows you to rediscover the switches, links, and end devices associated with the fabric. Select one or more fabrics to rediscover. From the Actions drop-down list, select Rediscover Fabrics. A progress bar in the State column displays the rediscovery progress. For more instructions, see Rediscovering a Fabric.

Purge Fabrics

Allows you to purge non-existent switches, links, and end devices of the fabric. Select one or more fabrics to purge. From the Actions drop-down list, select Purge Fabrics. For more instructions, see Purging a Fabric.

Configure Performance

Allows you to enable performance monitoring on links, switch interfaces, and end devices associated with the fabric. Select one or more fabrics for performance monitoring. From the Actions drop-down list, select Configure Performance. Make the necessary changes and click Apply. For more instructions, see Configuring Performance.

Configure SAN Insights

Allows you configure SAN Insights on the selected fabric. For more instructions, see [Configuring SAN Insights].

Configure Backup

Allows you to configure and schedule backup for the fabric data. For more instructions, see Backup and Restore in the Cisco NDFC SAN Controller Configuration Guide.

Adding a Fabric

To create a fabric using Cisco SAN Controller Web UI, perform the following steps:

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics > SAN Fabrics.

  2. Choose Actions > Add Fabrics.

  3. In the Fabric Name field, enter a unique name for the fabric.

  4. Select the Fabric Seed Switch Type.

    From Release 12.1.2e, NDFC allows you to discover Cisco and Non-Cisco switches to SAN Fabrics.

  5. If you chose Cisco in the Fabric Seed Switch Type, perform the following:

    1. In the Fabric Seed Switch field, enter the IP address of the seed switch.

      You can also enter the DNS name of the seed switch.

    2. Check the SNMPv3/SSH check box to enable access.

    3. From the Authentication / Privacy drop-down list, choose appropriate authentication for switch discovery.

    4. In the User Name and Password fields, enter appropriate details to access the seed switch if SNMPv3 is used.

      note.svg

      If SNMPv3/SSH is not used, enter appropriate community string in the Community String field.

    5. To discover switches using VSANs only, check the Limit Discovery by VSAN check box.

      • Select Included VSAN List to discovery switches included in VSANs.

      • Select Excluded VSAN List to discovery switches excluded in VSANs.

      • Enter the included or excluded VSANs in the VSAN List field.

    6. To discover switches using UCS credentials, check the Use UCS Credentials check box.

      • Enter the appropriate UCS CLI Credentials in the username and password fields.

      • To use the same SNMP credentials, check the Use same SNMP Credentials for UCS check box.

        You must provide different SNMP details if you uncheck this check box. ===

      • To use SNMP for UCS, check the Use SNMPv3 for UCS check box.

      • In the User Name and Password fields, enter appropriate details to access the seed switch if SNMPv3 is used.

        note.svg

        If SNMPv3/SSH is not used, enter appropriate community string in the UCS SNMP Community String field.

      • Enter appropriate community string in the UCS SNMP Community String field, if SNMPv3 is not used.

  6. If you chose Non-Cisco in the Fabric Seed Switch Type, perform the following:

    1. In the Fabric Seed Switch field, enter the IP address of the seed switch.

      You can also enter the DNS name of the seed switch.

    2. Check the SNMPv3/SSH check box to enable access.

    3. From the Authentication / Privacy drop-down list, choose appropriate authentication for switch discovery.

    4. In the User Name and Password fields, enter appropriate details to access the seed switch.

    5. In the Non-Cisco Switch CLI Credentials, provide appropriate username and password to access non-Cisco seed switch.

    6. To discover switches using UCS credentials, check the Use UCS Credentials check box.

      • Enter the appropriate UCS CLI Credentials in the username and password fields.

      • To use the same SNMP credentials, check the Use same SNMP Credentials for UCS check box.

        You must provide different SNMP details if you uncheck this check box.

      • To use SNMP for UCS, check the Use SNMPv3 for UCS check box.

        From the UCS Authentication / Privacy drop-down list, choose appropriate authentication for switch discovery.

        Enter UCS SNMP username and password in appropriate fields.

      • If Use SNMPv3 for UCS is unchecked, enter appropriate community string in the UCS SNMP Community String field.

  7. Click Add to add a Fabric.

    note.svg

    When you start SAN fabric discovery, after 15 minutes of fabric discovery the following process are scheduled on NDFC:

    • If the fabric is licensed, Performance Manager (PM) collection is initiated.

    • The Congestion Analysis job is scheduled to run continuously for a year. This job run will initiate after an hour of the schedule.

ESXi Networking for Promiscuous Mode

From Cisco NDFC Release 12.1.2e, you can run NDFC on top of virtual Nexus Dashboard (vND) instance with promiscuous mode that is disabled on port groups that are associated with Nexus Dashboard interfaces where External Service IP addresses are specified. vND comprises Nexus Dashboard management interface and data interface. By default, for fabric controller persona, two external service IP addresses are required for the Nexus Dashboard management interface subnet.

Before the NDFC Release 12.1.2e, if Inband management or Endpoint Locator or POAP feature was enabled on NDFC, you must also enable promiscuous mode for the Nexus Dashboard data or fabric interface port-group. This setting was mandatory for traffic flow that is associated for these features.

Enabling promiscuous mode raise risk of security issues in NDFC, it is recommended to set default setting for promiscuous mode.

note.svg

  • Disabling promiscuous mode is supported from Cisco Nexus Dashboard Release 2.3.1c.

  • You can disable promiscuous mode when Nexus Dashboard nodes are layer-3 adjacent on the Data network, BGP is configured, and fabric switches are reachable through the data interface.

  • You can disable promiscuous mode when Nexus Dashboard interfaces are layer-2 adjacent to switch mgmt0 interface.

If Inband management or EPL is enabled, you must specify External Service IP addresses in the Nexus Dashboard data interface subnet. You can disable promiscuous mode for the Nexus Dashboard data or fabric interface port-group. For more information, refer to the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Deployment Guide.

note.svg

Default option for promiscuous mode is Reject.

  1. Log into your vSphere Client.

  2. Navigate to the ESXi host.

  3. Right-click the host and choose Settings.

    A sub-menu appears.

  4. Choose Networking > Virtual Switches.

    All the virtual switches appear as blocks.

  5. Click Edit Settings of the VM Network.

  6. Navigate to the Security tab.

  7. Update the Promiscuous mode settings as follows:

    • Check the Override check box.

    • Choose Accept from the drop-down list.

  8. Click OK.

Editing a Fabric

To edit a fabric from the Cisco SAN Controller Web UI, perform the following steps:

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics > SAN Fabrics.

  2. Choose check box to edit required fabric name, choose the Actions > Edit Fabrics.

  3. In the Edit Fabrics window, you can edit only one fabric at a time.

  4. Enter a new fabric Fabric Name.

  5. (Optional) Check the SNMPV3 check box. If you check SNMPV3, the Community field changes to Username and Password.

  6. Enter the Username and Password, privacy and specify how you want SAN Controller Web Client to manage the fabric by selecting one of the status options.

  7. Change the status to Managed, Unmanaged, or Managed Continuously.

  8. (Optional) Check the Use UCS Credentials check box if you want to modify UCS credentials.

  9. Enter the Username and Password.

  10. Click Apply to save the changes.

Deleting a Fabric

To delete a fabric using SAN Controller Web UI, perform the following steps:

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics > SAN Fabrics.

  2. Choose Actions > Delete Fabrics to remove the fabric from the data source and to discontinue data collection for that fabric.

Rediscovering a Fabric

To discover a fabric using Cisco SAN Controller Web UI, perform the following steps:

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics > SAN Fabrics.

  2. Choose check box to rediscover required fabric name, choose the Actions > Rediscover Fabrics.

  3. Click Yes in the dialog box.

    In a fabric window, State column displays the progress of rediscovery for selected fabric.

    The Fabric is rediscovered.

Purging a Fabric

You can clean and update the fabric discovery table through the Purge option.

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics.

  2. Choose the check box next to the fabric you want to purge.

  3. Choose Action > Purge Fabrics.

    The Fabric is purged.

    From SAN Controller Release 12.0.1a, you can purge fabric on Topology window.

    • Choose Topology, choose a fabric, Right-click on fabric, choose Purge Down Fabric.

      The Fabric is purged.

Configuring Performance

If you are managing your switches with the performance manager, you must set up an initial set of flows and collections on the switch. You can use SAN Controller to add and remove performance collections. License the switch and keep it in the managedContinuously state before creating a collection for the switch. Only licensed fabrics appear in this window.

  1. Choose SAN > Fabrics.

  2. Choose the check box next to the fabric you want to configure performance collections.

  3. Choose Action > Configure Performance.

    The Performance Data Collection Settings window appears.

  4. Choose check box Performance Collection, to enable other check boxes.

  5. Choose required ISL/NPV Links, Hosts, Storage, and FC Ethernet, or choose box Select All to enable performance collection for these data types.

    1. To collect temperature data for SAN devices, choose Settings > Server Settings > PM.

    2. On PM tab, choose check box for Enable SAN Sensor Discovery and Collect Temperature for SAN Switches.

  6. Click Apply to save the configuration.

  7. In the confirmation dialog box, click Yes to restart the performance collector.

What to do next:

After upgrading to Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller, to view the restored old Performance Manager and high chart data, you must manually enable Performance Manager for each fabric. However, any old Temperature data is not restored.

To begin collecting Temperature data on the upgraded Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller setup, go to Settings > Server Settings PM tab. Check Collect Temperature for LAN Switches checkbox and click Save.. Note that Enable LAN Sensor Discovery checkbox is enabled by default.

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