3 Posts
0
788
M1000e and Cisco B22 switch
Hi,
I got a used M1000e chassis. Everything works fine, except that the blades don't have network access. The chassis has two Cisco Nexus B22 FEX switches, and I think I must configure the switch, but if I try to connect to it, it fails:
$ racadm connect -m switch-1
connect: switch-1 does not support console redirection
The switch itself does not have a physically accessible serial console.
Can anyone tell me, how to access the switch?
Thanks,
Istvan
DiegoLopez
4 Operator
4 Operator
•
2.7K Posts
0
July 13th, 2022 06:00
Hello @bk7ycy
A Cisco Nexus B22 on a MD1000e does not support console redirection. The Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender for Dell is managed by its parent Cisco Nexus switch over the fabric interfaces through a zero-touch configuration model. For example, you can upgrade the Fabric Extender by upgrading the software on the parent Cisco Nexus switch. A Fabric Extender is connected to the switch through physical Ethernet interfaces or an EtherChannel.
Check this guide, Cisco Nexus B22 Fabric Extender Getting Started Guide:
https://dell.to/3AKCRum
Dell™ PowerEdge™ M1000e Systems Configuration Guide: https://dell.to/3uKDEYA
Regards.
DELL-Joey C
Moderator
Moderator
•
3.2K Posts
0
July 13th, 2022 00:00
Hi @bk7ycy,
Try connect switch-n instead.
Reference: https://dell.to/3PpHcHu
Reference for B22: https://dell.to/3PmSxbw
bk7ycy
3 Posts
0
July 13th, 2022 03:00
Thank you for your answer. If I understand correctly, the number of the appropriate device must be substituted for n in the "connect switch-n" command. I tried issuing the commands below, but none of them helped:
$ connect switch-n
ERROR: The syntax of the command specified is not correct.
$ racadm connect switch-n
ERROR: The syntax of the command specified is not correct.
$ connect switch-1
connect: switch-1 does not support console redirection
$ radacm connect switch-1
Unsupported command
$ racadm connect -m switch-n
ERROR: The syntax of the command specified is not correct.
$ racadm connect -m switch-1
connect: switch-1 does not support console redirection
(switch-2 does the same)
I think "connect switch-1" or "racadm connect -m switch-1" would be the right command but it still doesn't work for some reason. I don't know why the switch doesn't support console redirection, and how to get it to support it.
I can't find any settings for the switch either in the cms gui or the racadm commands. I can list the switches among the I/O modules, but I can't set anything.
$ getmodinfo -m switch-1
Switch-1 Present ON OK
$ getmodinfo -m switch-2
Switch-2 Present ON OK
Thank you,
Istvan
bk7ycy
3 Posts
0
July 13th, 2022 16:00
Thank you @DiegoLopez!
Do I understand correctly, that the Cisco Nexus B22 switch is not viable by itself, because I have to put a Cisco Nexus 5500 switch in front of it? Instead of this, Can I replace the B22 with another switch module that works on its own without additional switches? For example, would a "Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3130 for Dell M1000E" switch be suitable instead of the B22? This would be a much more cost-effective solution.
Are the two identical switches only necessary for redundancy, and would it be functional with just one, or do I need to put two Cisco 3130 Catalyst switches in the chassis?
Thank you,
Istvan
DELL-Joey C
Moderator
Moderator
•
3.2K Posts
1
July 13th, 2022 21:00
Hi @bk7ycy,
Yes, the parent switch is Cisco Nexus 5500 series of switches.
Well, it would be functional just as one switch. 2 switch configuration is best for redundancy, agreeable to your point.