Chapter 1. Verified Scale Limits for Cisco DCNM

- Verified Scale Limits for Cisco DCNM

Verified Scale Limits for Cisco DCNM

This document describes the verified scale limits for Cisco DCNM 11.3(1) for managing LAN Classic, LAN Fabric, SAN Management, and Media Controller fabrics. The values are validated on testbeds that are enabled with a reasonable number of features, and are not theoretical system limits for Cisco DCNM software or Cisco Nexus switch hardware and software. The values can increase over time with more testing and validation. When you try to achieve maximum scalability by scaling multiple features at the same time, results might differ from the values that are listed here.

Cisco DCNM Classic LAN Management

This fabric is primarily used for traditional LAN topologies including but not limited to virtual port channels (vPCs), Access-Aggregation-Core, and FabricPath.

Description

Verified Limit

Switches

1000

FEX devices

64

Physical ports

36000

Cisco DCNM LAN Fabric Management

This fabric is primarily used for Cisco Nexus 9000 and Cisco Nexus 3000 Series switches based VXLAN BGP EVPN deployments. (Easy Fabric installation mode).

Note

- We recommend that you deploy Cisco DCNM server in Native HA mode in a production setup.

- NIR scale with DCNM is 250 switches, independent of Managed/Monitored mode. Refer to Cisco Network Insights for Resources Application for Cisco DCNM User Guide.

Refer to the following table if you are provisioning new VXLAN EVPN fabrics. The table applies to all deployments except for "Brownfield Migrations".

Scale Limits For Provisioning New VXLAN EVPN Fabrics (Also referred to as "Greenfield" Deployment)

Description

Verified Limit

Fabric Underlay and Overlay

Switches

Note

The maximum recommended number of switches per fabric when DCNM is in managed mode is 120.

80 – Managed by a DCNM server with no compute nodes.

350 – Managed by a DCNM server with three compute nodes.

750 – Monitored by a DCNM server with no compute nodes.

Interfaces

30000

Layer-3 scenario: VRFs

500

Layer-3 scenario: Networks

1000

Layer 2 scenario: Networks

1500

VRF instances for external connectivity

300

Endpoint Locator

Endpoints

100000 across a maximum of 4 fabrics

Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)

Virtual Machines (VMs)

5500

VMware vCenter Servers

4

Note

There is no limit on the number of Multi-Site Domains (MSDs) that can be created.

Refer to the following table if you are transitioning a Cisco Nexus 9000 Series switches based VXLAN EVPN fabric management to DCNM. Before the migration, your fabric was an NFM managed or CLI configured fabric.

Scale Limits For Transitioning Existing Fabric Management to DCNM (Also referred to as "Brownfield Migration")

Description

Verified Limit

Fabric Underlay and Overlay

Switches per fabric

70

Interfaces

5000

VRF instances

500

Overlay networks

1000

VRF instances for external connectivity

300

Endpoint Locator

Endpoints

100000 across a maximum of 4 fabrics

Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)

Virtual Machines (VMs)

5500

VMware vCenter Servers

4

Cisco DCNM SAN Management

This fabric is used for SAN topologies.

Description

Verified Limit

Switches

80

Hosts or targets

20000

Zone sets

1000

Zones

16000

SAN Insights

A maximum of 20K Initiator-Target-LUNs (ITLs) and Initiator-Target-N (ITNs) combined are supported .The 'N' in ITN represents a namespace ID.

Full Cisco Trademarks with Software License

THE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE PRODUCTS IN THIS MANUAL ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL STATEMENTS, INFORMATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS MANUAL ARE BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE BUT ARE PRESENTED WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. USERS MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR APPLICATION OF ANY PRODUCTS.

THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AND LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE ACCOMPANYING PRODUCT ARE SET FORTH IN THE INFORMATION PACKET THAT SHIPPED WITH THE PRODUCT AND ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY THIS REFERENCE. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOFTWARE LICENSE OR LIMITED WARRANTY, CONTACT YOUR CISCO REPRESENTATIVE FOR A COPY.

The Cisco implementation of TCP header compression is an adaptation of a program developed by the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) as part of UCB's public domain version of the UNIX operating system. All rights reserved. Copyright © 1981, Regents of the University of California.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER WARRANTY HEREIN, ALL DOCUMENT FILES AND SOFTWARE OF THESE SUPPLIERS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS. CISCO AND THE ABOVE-NAMED SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL CISCO OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO DATA ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS MANUAL, EVEN IF CISCO OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and phone numbers used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses and phone numbers. Any examples, command display output, network topology diagrams, and other figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses or phone numbers in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.

All printed copies and duplicate soft copies of this document are considered uncontrolled. See the current online version for the latest version.

Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses and phone numbers are listed on the Cisco website at www.cisco.com/go/offices.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/legal/trademarks.html. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1721R)