When we think about fabric switches, we tend to consider low-end hardware. These typically do not require considerable memory, CPU, intense resources, or functionality. We also tend to think about them as just aggregation layer switches which will reduce our cable runs to the core switch. This helps keep investment and operation costs under control – fewer cables, hardware resources, and management.

Cisco MDS SAN Switch Zoning Commands. First, we need to enter into the config mode. In the Cisco switch, all configuration changes happen in configuration mode. To enter the config mode just execute the below command. Switch# config t. Check the connectivity Status of Initiator. Timezone and NTP configuration of a Cisco MDS switch. Using a GUI for configuring purposes isn’t always the best thing to do, although it most certainly provides a level of overview that cannot be obtained on the CLI. Cisco mds switch simulator download in Description. ExamSimulator For CCNA-200-125. ExamSimulator For CCNA 200-125 is a program that provides practice tests for the.

All this is true and I am not in disagreement with the previous statements. However, let me address some recent changes that should be considered before making an investment decision.

Storage Area Networks are Evolving

Spinning disks are being replaced with All-Flash Arrays with NVMe on the horizon. Servers are moving to NVMe storage as well as being NVMe/FC capable. Moreover, Storage Area Network (SAN) Directors also support NVMe/FC, along with robust hardware and software capabilities. The most ignored point is the fabric switch, where we connect our hosts and storage ports. This becomes a real problem if they have limited resources and feature support. More often, the performance problems are found on the edge switches, rather than the core switches because that’s the highway entry for the packets to get into the fabric.

Now, what if we had more powerful hardware with more robust feature sets in this small form factor switches that we currently see in Director-class core switches? Cisco’s MDS 9000 Series 32G fibre-channel (FC) switches have this unique advantage, using the same switching ASICs across 32G FC Director modules and Cisco MDS 32G FC fabric switches.

Cisco Mds Switch Simulator Cisco Switch

10 Unique Enterprise Level Fabric Switch Features

Let’s discuss some of the unique enterprise-level features of these fabric switches:

The port ASIC. All three switches are using the same ASIC that we are using in MDS 9700 32G FC module. This means this small fabric switch has the power of a modular switch. Small doesn’t mean less for Cisco MDS fabric switches.
NVMe/FC support. Supported transparently across all the switches.
Scalability: Offering a wide range of selection from 8-port to 96-port configuration.
SAN Analytics. Dedicated hardware to support Cisco’s unique cost-effective, simple, and secure solution for deep packet visibility across the fabric.
Cisco’s unique approach to security using anti-counterfeit technology and secure boot.
Ease of deployment. Unique Autozone feature to automate zoning functionality.
Simplified Management.Cisco DCNM is a single-pane-of-glass dashboard to manage all Cisco MDS switches.
Feature parity. Benefit from the same level of inflight encryption, buffer credits, long-distance DWDM connectivity, same port group size, and non-oversubscribed line-rate performance across all fabric switches.
Field replicable and redundant 80Plus Platinum-certified power supplies and FAN trays
Front-to-back or Back-to front airflow options.

So, now when we go FC switch shopping, we don’t have to worry about features as they are common across all different models, just know how many ports we need and that’s it.

In the next blog, we will cover one more such topic: How Cisco MDS switches are leading innovation.

Until then, happy shopping!

Additional Resources

Learn more about Cisco Storage Area Networking.

Blog: Cisco continues investment protection with 64G FC readiness using Cisco MDS 9700 Series Multilayer Directors

Blog: Cisco MDS 9000 series switches: Security is better when it is built-in, not bolted on Fl studio 11 free download mac 2020.

Blog: Dell EMC PowerStore and Cisco MDS for SAN – A win-win pair to transform IT

Blog: IBM FlashSystem 9200 is here: Maximize investment with 64G storage networks

Blog: SANS enhanced performance, analytics, and automation

Blog: NVMe over Fibre Channel with MDS 9000 Series

Timezone and NTP configuration of a Cisco MDS switch

Using a GUI for configuring purposes isn’t always the best thing to do, although it most certainly provides a level of overview that cannot be obtained on the CLI.

I’ve found out the Device Manager default settings for NTP for example are that IPv4 addresses used to point to an NTP entity is set to “peer” and if you don’t use peer synchronization, but have a dedicated NTP server instead, it’s better to place a check mark on the “server” item. Also if you have several time sources, you can set a preferred one by placing a check mark at the particular entity.

But just setting the NTP entities is one thing, you also want the logs to display the right timezone. I found the GUI way of doing things for managing the NTP entities the easiest and most reliable way, since you can also easily delete obsolete lines. To adjust a switch’s timezone configuration, I like to use the CLI.

Using your favorite telnet / SSH tool (I use PUTTY) you can adjust the NTP settings I just described as well, it’s just that deleting obsolete lines can be tricky, but can be done as well on the CLI.

After logging in, you need to enter the configuration mode by typing “config terminal”, or simply “conf t”.

The following two commands are used to set the timezone of a switch to Central European Time (CET) as well as naming the Daylight Savings time to CEST (Central European Summer time) and pointing out that the adjustments need to be done on the last Sunday of March at 2AM as well as the last Sunday of October at 3AM and adjusting the time by 60 minutes.

clock timezone CET 1 0
clock summer-time CEST 5 Sun Mar 02:00 5 Sun Oct 03:00 60

the NTP entries I did in the GUI can also be set on the CLI by typing:

ntp server 172.16.21.83 prefer
ntp server 192.168.17.5

Cisco Mds Switch Simulator Cisco Cloud

Now exit the config mode and save the configuration by entering “copy run start” (or “copy r s”).

Cisco Mds9250i

Exit the CLI and you’re good to go!