Beware of EMC switches sold as Mellanox SX6XXX on eBay

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M@}{

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Feb 28, 2020
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After re-conversion image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz, after image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz

Code:
Starting: PPC_M460EX 3.6.1002 2016-06-09 20:24:26 ppc
Starting udev: error initializing udevd socket
Wait timeout. Will continue in the background.[FAILED]
Setting hostname localhost:  [  OK  ]
Checking filesystems
/dev/mtdblock7: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock8: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock9: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
Checking all file systems.
[  OK  ]
Remounting root filesystem in read-write mode:  [  OK  ]
Mounting local filesystems:  mount: special device /dev/mtdblock8 does not exist
mount: special device /dev/mtdblock9 does not exist
[FAILED]
Running vpart script:  [  OK  ]
Applying file system skeletons: base_var base_config .
Running firstboot script ... uboot and bootsrap updates are required
Re-install updated uboot
-E- could not open device
mount: special device /dev/mtdblock6 does not exist
umount: /tmp/mnt_image_ais/ROOT_1: not mounted
*** Could not zero non-fs MTD partition /dev/mtd4
Rebooting system after uboot upgrade
-E- could not open device
-E- could not open device
usage: /sbin/aiset.sh -i [-l NEXT_BOOT_ID] [-p MD5_PASSWORD] [-r] [-f {true,false}] [-F] [-E]
usage: /sbin/aiset.sh -m -d BOOT_DISK [-L LAYOUT] [-l NEXT_BOOT_ID]
          [-p MD5_PASSWORD]

-i: not running at manufacture time (generally image install)
-m: running at manufacture time

-l NEXT_BOOT_ID: image location to boot from: 1 or 2
-d BOOT_DISK: (mfg only) /dev/sda or /dev/hda
-L LAYOUT: (mfg only) image layout, like STD
-w HWNAME: (mfg only) hardware name (usually optional on x86)
-p MD5_PASSWORD: MD5 encrypted password
-r: (install only) re-install the bootmgr itself (GRUB or u-boot)
-f {true,false}: enable or disable fallback reboot behavior for next boot
-I IMAGE_LOCATION_ID -s IMAGE_LOCATION_STATE : exclusive with -l
        States are: 0=invalid; 1=active; 2=fallback; 3=manual
-F FIPS: Use this flag to add fips=1 flag for command line run
-E FIPS_DISABLE: User this flag to set fips=0 for command line run

Writes a grub.conf which use the selected next boot location,
   and which contains the installed image version strings.

-E- could not open device
Generating SSH1 RSA host key: [FAILED]
Generating SSH2 RSA host key: [FAILED]
Generating SSH2 DSA host key: [FAILED]
    Starting sx_low_level_if:
Loading i2c_mux_pca954x  - Failure: 1
Loading sx_glue_if  - Failure: 1
Loading watchdog  - Failure: 1
Loading cpld_handler  - Failure: 1
Loading mellaggra_mod  - Failure: 1
Loading switchx  - Failure: 1
Loading 8021q:[FAILED]
-E- could not open device
Error: mlxi2c failed: cant read system type
[FAILED]
Enabling /etc/fstab swaps:  [  OK  ]
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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Where do you take these images from? I dont think they are the original ones from the guide are they? (Cant remember)
 

Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
6,643
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So the one from the guide is image-PPC_M460EX-3.6.1002.img which seems to be what you refered to as image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz ? Whats image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz ?

Does anything work after following the conversion guide by the book,. ie using 3.6.1002 image?
 

M@}{

Member
Feb 28, 2020
45
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Does anything work after following the conversion guide by the book,. ie using 3.6.1002 image?
image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz in image-PPC_M460EX-3.6.1002.img
after
Code:
Starting: PPC_M460EX 3.6.1002 2016-06-09 20:24:26 ppc
Starting udev: error initializing udevd socket
Wait timeout. Will continue in the background.[FAILED]
Setting hostname localhost:  [  OK  ]
Checking filesystems
/dev/mtdblock7: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock8: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock9: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
Checking all file systems.
[  OK  ]
Remounting root filesystem in read-write mode:  [  OK  ]
Mounting local filesystems:  mount: special device /dev/mtdblock8 does not exist
mount: special device /dev/mtdblock9 does not exist
[FAILED]
Running vpart script:  [  OK  ]
Applying file system skeletons: base_var base_config .
Running firstboot script ... uboot and bootsrap updates are required
Re-install updated uboot
-E- could not open device
mount: special device /dev/mtdblock6 does not exist
umount: /tmp/mnt_image_ais/ROOT_1: not mounted
*** Could not zero non-fs MTD partition /dev/mtd4
Rebooting system after uboot upgrade
-E- could not open device
-E- could not open device
usage: /sbin/aiset.sh -i [-l NEXT_BOOT_ID] [-p MD5_PASSWORD] [-r] [-f {true,false}] [-F] [-E]
usage: /sbin/aiset.sh -m -d BOOT_DISK [-L LAYOUT] [-l NEXT_BOOT_ID]
          [-p MD5_PASSWORD]

-i: not running at manufacture time (generally image install)
-m: running at manufacture time

-l NEXT_BOOT_ID: image location to boot from: 1 or 2
-d BOOT_DISK: (mfg only) /dev/sda or /dev/hda
-L LAYOUT: (mfg only) image layout, like STD
-w HWNAME: (mfg only) hardware name (usually optional on x86)
-p MD5_PASSWORD: MD5 encrypted password
-r: (install only) re-install the bootmgr itself (GRUB or u-boot)
-f {true,false}: enable or disable fallback reboot behavior for next boot
-I IMAGE_LOCATION_ID -s IMAGE_LOCATION_STATE : exclusive with -l
        States are: 0=invalid; 1=active; 2=fallback; 3=manual
-F FIPS: Use this flag to add fips=1 flag for command line run
-E FIPS_DISABLE: User this flag to set fips=0 for command line run

Writes a grub.conf which use the selected next boot location,
   and which contains the installed image version strings.

-E- could not open device
Generating SSH1 RSA host key: [FAILED]
Generating SSH2 RSA host key: [FAILED]
Generating SSH2 DSA host key: [FAILED]
    Starting sx_low_level_if:
Loading i2c_mux_pca954x  - Failure: 1
Loading sx_glue_if  - Failure: 1
Loading watchdog  - Failure: 1
Loading cpld_handler  - Failure: 1
Loading mellaggra_mod  - Failure: 1
Loading switchx  - Failure: 1
Loading 8021q:[FAILED]
-E- could not open device
Error: mlxi2c failed: cant read system type
[FAILED]
Enabling /etc/fstab swaps:  [  OK  ]
image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz in image-PPC_M460EX-3.6.8012.img http://lab.netservers.ro/mellanox.rar
Code:
INIT: version 2.86 booting
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)

Starting: PPC_M460EX 3.6.8012 2019-02-22 07:53:42 ppc
Starting udev: mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
[  OK  ]
Setting clock  (utc): Fri Dec 26 04:03:02 UTC 2014 [  OK  ]
Setting hostname localhost:  [  OK  ]
Checking filesystems
fsck: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by fsck)
fsck: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by fsck)
fsck: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
fsck: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
fsck: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
Checking all file systems.
[  OK  ]
Remounting root filesystem in read-write mode:  mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
[  OK  ]
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
Mounting local filesystems:  mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
mount: /lib/libblkid.so.1: no version information available (required by /lib/libmount.so.1)
[  OK  ]
Running vpart script:  [  OK  ]
Applying file system skeletons: base_var base_config .
Running firstboot script error reading information on service arp_responder: No such file or directory
Generating SSH1 RSA host key: [  OK  ]
Generating SSH2 RSA host key: [  OK  ]
Generating SSH2 DSA host key: [  OK  ]
    Starting sx_low_level_if:
Loading i2c_mux_pca954x  - Success
Loading sx_glue_if  - Success
Loading watchdog  - Success
Loading cpld_handler  - Success
Loading mellaggra_mod  - Success
Loading switchx  - Success
Reloading udev:
Loading SX driver:[  OK  ]
Stopping iss-nvram-mac
Stopping sx_low_level_if
switchx module unloaded
mellaggra_mod module unloaded
cpld_handler module unloaded
watchdog module unloaded
i2c_mux_pca954x module unloaded
mlx system_profile: 3
mlx system_type: SX6012
mlx system_oid: 1.3.6.1.4.1.33049.1.1.1.6012
mlx system_local_mgmt_pn: 100-886-236-04
mlx system_local_mgmt_sn: MT1840X02629
Documentation handling started
    Starting sx_low_level_if:
Loading i2c_mux_pca954x  - Success
NOTE: sx_glue_if module is already loaded
Loading watchdog  - Success
Loading cpld_handler  - Success
Loading mellaggra_mod  - Success
Loading switchx  - Success
After this message, there are many ECC messages, after which the invitation to log in using admin / admin but login fails, incorrect username or password

Code:
Buffer I/O error on device mtdblock6, logical block 1
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
end_request: I/O error, dev mtdblock6, sector 128
Buffer I/O error on device mtdblock6, logical block 16
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC errorblk_update_request: 3 callbacks suppressed
end_request: I/O error, dev mtdblock6, sector 0
quiet_error: 3 callbacks suppressed
Buffer I/O error on device mtdblock6, logical block 0
__nand_correct_data: uncorrectable ECC error
 

Rand__

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2014
6,643
1,778
113
/dev/mtdblock7: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock8: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock9: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)

Are those preexisting or created in the conversion - cant remember. Can't find any reference to them in my old logs
 

M@}{

Member
Feb 28, 2020
45
1
8
/dev/mtdblock7: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock8: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)
/dev/mtdblock9: nonexistent device ("nofail" fstab option may be used to skip this device)

Are those preexisting or created in the conversion - cant remember. Can't find any reference to them in my old logs
This message is with the version image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz, I suspect that it appeared after recording image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz, after which I tried again to write image-PPC_M460EX-ppc -m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz
I went back to image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz
but I still don't understand why I can't log in as admin


1622654042459.png
 

Rand__

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2014
6,643
1,778
113
This message is with the version image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz, I suspect that it appeared after recording image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz, after which I tried again to write image-PPC_M460EX-ppc -m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz
I went back to image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz
but I still don't understand why I can't log in as admin


View attachment 18864
passwd alone is not sufficient,
The /etc/shadow file stores actual password in encrypted format (more like the hash of the password) for user’s account with additional properties related to user password.
So the link points to a file which does not exist any more, you might need to recover it in earlier steps (or try to recreate)
 

supacupa

New Member
Jun 2, 2021
15
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Oh! Is this the one I want to accomplish my goals then? I skipped over this one because it says: THIS MALLANOX SX6036 switch DOES NOT HAVE an Ethernet L2 L3 + Gateway license ON IT.

I believe this thread is about how to fix that, though. All the networking terms are a bit confusing to me, but I'm a firmware developer and am familiar with flashing devices through several different methods.
 

Rand__

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2014
6,643
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I have an old Dell blade server connected to my desktop with Mellanox ConnectX 3 cards. I want to connect two other computers to the same server (and to each other). An 40G QSFP+ ethernet switch seems like my best bet.
If yll you need are 3 QSFP ports then there are lots of other alternatives too, eg some older Brocade switches
 

klui

༺༻
Feb 3, 2019
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523
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This message is with the version image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz, I suspect that it appeared after recording image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz, after which I tried again to write image-PPC_M460EX-ppc -m460ex-20160609-202426.tgz
I went back to image-PPC_M460EX-ppc-m460ex-20190222-075342.tgz
but I still don't understand why I can't log in as admin
You can't login as admin because the first boot activates the admin account by modifying the files in /var. /var should point to /dev/mtdblock9. You need to make sure you formatted mtdblocks 7-9 copied the requisite files properly. Maybe there were errors when you formatted and copied the files. The guide states that if you get excessive errors during format your flash could be compromised.

The fact that mtdblocks 7-9 aren't available is very troubling. 7 is /, 8 /config, 9 /var. Go through your conversion log to see if there were excessive errors erasing them.
 
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supacupa

New Member
Jun 2, 2021
15
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No, this thread is about converting EMC switches to MLX OS like this 18 port one: Mellanox MSX6018-2BFS SX6018 EMC 100-886-230-02 12-port switch with EMC OS | eBay
Ahh, I see. My bad.

There are some threads that hint on how to generate the necessary licenses to enable Ethernet on a regular SX6036 though.
Thanks! I'll take a look. Do you know any you can easily point me to?

I am not saying that you might not be able to convert the 6720 you found, but i have not seen anyone trying yet
I think I'll avoid trying to do something like that.

If yll you need are 3 QSFP ports then there are lots of other alternatives too, eg some older Brocade switches
I need 4 or 5 QSFP ports, but yeah, something simple that doesn't cost an arm and a leg would be great. I'll look into it more, are there any can can think of off the top of your head?

Thank you so much much for your time and quick responses.
 

supacupa

New Member
Jun 2, 2021
15
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well the cheapest option would be a sx6012 EMC, converted following this thread...

if you only need 4 ports, there is Brocade ICX6610-24-E 24-Port 1GE RJ45 8x 1GE SFPP 4x 40GE QSFP 2x PSU Switch HSS | eBay as well.

Depends on your location /budget:)
Oh nice! I just ordered that Brocade. The SFPP and RJ45 ports will work quite well with what I have planned. Thanks!!
My location is USA, and my budget is a few hundred dollars, but this switch looks like exactly what I need right now.
 

klui

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Feb 3, 2019
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Oh nice! I just ordered that Brocade. The SFPP and RJ45 ports will work quite well with what I have planned. Thanks!!
My location is USA, and my budget is a few hundred dollars, but this switch looks like exactly what I need right now.
FYI, two of the 6610's QSFP ports are hardwired to breakout only.
 
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Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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@supacupa Ouch, sorry, :(
Never used the 6xxx line them, just thought from the brocade thread that the QSFP ports usually are dual use
 
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