Table Of Contents
Cisco Nexus 3000 Series NX-OS Release Notes, Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches
Upgrade and Downgrade Guidelines
New Software Features in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Resolved Caveats in NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
Cisco Nexus 3000 Series NX-OS Release Notes, Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Release Date: October 17, 2011Part Number: OL-25704-02 I0
Current Release: Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)This document describes the features, caveats, and limitations for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches. Use this document in combination with documents listed in the "Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request" section.
Note Table 1-1 shows the online change history for this document.
Table 1-1 Online History Change
Part Number Revision Date DescriptionOL-25704-01
A0
August 31, 2011
Created NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(1) release notes.
B0
September 29, 2011
Updated CSCts17928.
OL-25704-02
A0
October 17, 2011
Created NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) Release Notes.
B0
October 18, 2011
Removed the "Supported Upgrade and Downgrade Paths" section.
C0
December 6, 2011
Updated the "Bidirectional Forwarding Detection" and the "Equal Cost Multipath for Host Routes" sections.
D0
January 10, 2012
Updated the "Upgrade and Downgrade Guidelines" section.
E0
January 12, 2012
Added open caveat CSCtw56820.
F0
April 30, 2012
Added information about ERSPAN to the "Limitations" section.
G0
May 11, 2012
Added Release 5.0(3)U1(1a) and 5.0(3)U1(1b) to Table 1-3.
H0
June 27, 2012
Removed references to Cisco Nexus 3048 switch.
I0
November 28, 2013
Updated resolved caveat CSCuh79034.
Contents
This document includes the following sections:
•Software Upgrade or Downgrade
•Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
Introduction
The Cisco NX-OS software is a data center-class operating system built with modularity, resiliency, and serviceability at its foundation. Based on the industry-proven Cisco MDS 9000 SAN-OS software, Cisco NX-OS helps ensure continuous availability and sets the standard for mission-critical data center environments. The highly modular design of Cisco NX-OS makes zero-effect operations a reality and enables exceptional operational flexibility. Cisco NX-OS software offers the following benefits:
•Cisco NX-OS runs on all Cisco data center switch platforms: Cisco Nexus 7000, Nexus 5000, Nexus 4000, Nexus 3000, Nexus 2000, and Nexus 1000V Series switches.
•Cisco NX-OS software interoperates with Cisco products running any variant of Cisco IOS software and also with any networking operating system that conforms to common networking standards.
•Cisco NX-OS modular processes are triggered on demand, each in a separate protected memory space. Processes are started and system resources are allocated only when a feature is enabled. The modular processes are governed by a real-time preemptive scheduler that helps ensure timely processing of critical functions.
•Cisco NX-OS provides a programmatic XML interface based on the NETCONF industry standard. The Cisco NX-OS XML interface provides a consistent API for devices. Cisco NX-OS also provides support for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Versions 1, 2, and 3 MIBs.
•Cisco NX-OS enables administrators to limit access to switch operations by assigning roles to users. Administrators can customize access and restrict it to the users who require it.
Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches
The Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches are high-performance, high-density, ultra-low-latency Ethernet switches that provide line-rate Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching. The Cisco Nexus 3064 switch is a 1 RU switch that supports 48 1- or 10-Gigabit downlink ports, four quad 10-Gigabit ports, two 100/1000 management ports, and one console port. The switch includes one or two power supply units and one fan tray module, and can be ordered with either standard (port-side exhaust) airflow or reverse (port-side intake) airflow for cooling. The Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches run the industry-leading Cisco NX-OS Software operating system.
For information about the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series, see the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Hardware Installation Guide.
System Requirements
This section includes the following topics:
•Software Upgrade or Downgrade
Memory Requirements
The Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) software requires 135MB of flash memory.
Hardware Supported
Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) supports the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches. You can find detailed information about supported hardware in the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Hardware Installation Guide.
Table 1-2 shows the hardware supported by Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) software.
Table 1-3 shows the transceivers supported by Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) software.
Software Upgrade or Downgrade
This section provides information related to upgrading or downgrading Cisco NX-OS software on Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches. This section includes the following topics:
•Upgrade and Downgrade Guidelines
Upgrade and Downgrade Guidelines
The following guidelines apply to Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches:
•Before upgrading to Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) from any earlier release, we recommend that you do a write-erase and reload.
Upgrade/Downgrade Caveats
The following caveats apply to Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) for Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches:
•If you install Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) and then downgrade to a lower version of software, the SPAN configuration is lost. To avoid configuration loss, save the configuration before upgrading to Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2), and then reapply the local SPAN configurations after the downgrade.
•If you install Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2), configure ERSPAN, and then downgrade to a lower version of software, the ERSPAN configuration is lost. This situation occurs because ERSPAN is not supported in software releases earlier than Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2).
New and Changed Features
This section describes the new features introduced in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2). This section includes the following topics:
New Software Features
All Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches are supported by Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) and Release 5.0(3)U2(1). Cisco NX-OS interoperates with any networking OS, including Cisco IOS software, that conforms to the networking standards mentioned in the product data sheet.
New Software Features in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) includes the new software features described in this section.
This section includes the following topics:
•Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
•Equal Cost Multipath for Host Routes
•Encapsulated Remote Switched Port Analyzer
•L40p Port Comparison for Egress RACLs
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) provides low-overhead, short-duration detection of failures in the path between adjacent forwarding engines.
BFD is a fixed-length hello protocol, in which each end of a connection transmits packets periodically over a forwarding path. Cisco NX-OS supports BFD adaptive detection times. In addition, Cisco NX-OS supports BFD (version 1) for the verification of IPv4 single-hop connectivity. Cisco NX-OS supports asynchronous mode.
BFD works over Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and port channel interfaces. BFD can be used with the following features and protocols:
•Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
Encapsulated Remote Switched Port Analyzer
Encapsulated remote switched port analyzer (ERSPAN) transports mirrored traffic over an IP network. The traffic is encapsulated at the source router and is transferred across the network. The packet is decapsulated at the destination router and then sent to the destination interface.
ERSPAN consists of an ERSPAN source session, routable ERSPAN generic routing encapsulation (GRE)-encapsulated traffic, and an ERSPAN destination session. You separately configure ERSPAN source sessions and destination sessions on different switches.
Equal Cost Multipath for Host Routes
Routing protocols can use load balancing or equal cost multipath (ECMP) to share traffic across multiple paths.When a router learns multiple routes to a specific network, it installs the route with the lowest administrative distance in the routing table. If the router receives and installs multiple paths with the same administrative distance and cost to a destination, load balancing can occur. Load balancing distributes the traffic across all the paths, sharing the load. The number of paths used is limited by the number of entries that the routing protocol puts in the routing table. Cisco NX-OS supports up to 64 paths to a destination.
Precision Time Protocol
Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is a time synchronization protocol for nodes distributed across a network. Its hardware timestamp feature provides greater accuracy than other time synchronization protocols such as Network Time Protocol (NTP).
A PTP system can consist of a combination of PTP and non-PTP devices. PTP devices include ordinary clocks, boundary clocks, and transparent clocks. Non-PTP devices include ordinary network switches, routers, and other infrastructure devices.
PTP is a distributed protocol that specifies how real-time PTP clocks in the system synchronize with each other. These clocks are organized into a master-member synchronization hierarchy with the grandmaster clock, the clock at the top of the hierarchy, determining the reference time for the entire system. Synchronization is achieved by exchanging PTP timing messages, with the members using the timing information to adjust their clocks to the time of their master in the hierarchy. PTP operates within a logical scope called a PTP domain.
L40p Port Comparison for Egress RACLs
Cisco NX-OS supports L40p port comparison for egress router access control lists (RACLs). For more information, see the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series NX-OS Security Configuration Guide.
Limitations
There following limitation exists in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2):
•ERSPAN
When packets are mirrored and sent to the ERSPAN destination port, GRE headers are not stripped off. Packets are sent along with the GRE headers as GRE packets with the original packet as the GRE payload.
Caveats
Open and resolved caveat record numbers are provided with links to the But Toolkit where you can find details about each caveat.
This section includes the following topics:
•Resolved Caveats in NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Open Caveats
Table 1-4 lists descriptions of open caveats in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2) and Release 5.0(3)U2(1). The record ID links to the Cisco Bug Toolkit where you can find details about the caveat.
Resolved Caveats in NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2)
Table 1-5 lists descriptions of resolved caveats in Cisco NX-OS Release 5.0(3)U2(2). The record ID links to the Cisco Bug Toolkit where you can find details about the caveat.
Related Documentation
Documentation for the Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switch is available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/tsd_products_support_series_home.html
The documentation set is divided into the following categories:
Release Notes
The release notes are available at the follwing URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/prod_release_notes_list.html
Installation and Upgrade Guides
The installation and upgrade guides are available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/prod_installation_guides_list.html
Command References
The command references are available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/prod_command_reference_list.html
Technical References
The technical references are available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/prod_technical_reference_list.html
Configuration Guides
The configuration guides are available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/products_installation_and_configuration_guides_list.html
Error and System Messages
The system message reference guide is available at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps11541/products_system_message_guides_list.html
Documentation Feedback
To provide technical feedback on this document, or to report an error or omission, please send your comments to nexus3k-docfeedback@cisco.com. We appreciate your feedback.
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
For information on obtaining documentation, using the Cisco Bug Search Tool (BST), submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see What's New in Cisco Product Documentation at: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html.
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