Nexus 5500, FEX 2248T, ESX

Question

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Hi Lucien,
I have a configuration in place according to the attached file net_design_n5k.vsd. Today I tried to configure port-channel interfaces between the FEX (in this case FEX 100) and attached ESX hosts.
When defining a VPC to the port-channel interface first by using stmt “vpc 203”, I received the error-msg below when entering the command “channel-group 203 ….” to the physical interfaces.
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
When defining the physical interface first with the stmt “channel-group 203 ….” I was not able to add the stmt vpc 203 to the channel interface.
The devices are running the latest NX-OS image according to the following screen-shots:
Any hints or tips are very much appreciated.
Best regards
Roman

Answer 1

Allright. Regarding ESX channels: Maybe a better option is to setup VST-mode and loadbalancing based on the virtual port ID on the vSwitch. Then attach the vNIC's to different port-groups (you will have one port group per VLAN). With this setup you don't need to configure a channel on the ESX but you still have a active/active design due to the fact, that the port-groups are distributed to the uplink-NIC's on your ESX host (all vNIC's in port group 1 will be pinned to uplink NIC 1, all vNIC's in port group 2 to the uplink NIC 2, vNIC's in port group 3 to uplink NIC 1 etc. In case of a uplink failure the port group to uplink mapping will recalculate and the port groups uses the remaining uplink NIC's).