Hello, im currently running firmware ver 08.0.30tT7f3 is it worth it upgrading? what does the newer firmware give me?
Brocade ICX Series (cheap & powerful 10gbE/40gbE switching)
- Thread starter fohdeesha
- Start date
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depends.
I probably wouldn't upgrade to 09.XX; but you could upgrade to 08.0.30u (if you're on an ICX6XXX series switch) as it contains some bugfixes or 08.09.95 if you're on another switch that supports it
So, my trusty ICX6610-48P has started resetting itself randomly, usually between 10 and 30 minutes between reboots. Not seeing anything in any of the logs on the device when it comes back up, and I wasn't seeing anything on the serial console either before or after a reset. I jerry-rigged my network with a different switch so my wife and kids could at least keep using the wifi today and I could work from home, but OpenHAB and stuff are down for now.
I was able to find a replacement ICX6610-48P from a local recycler for not too much of a premium over eBay prices and will swap it in after work today after licensing it and making sure it's updated to the latest FW per the guide.
As far as diagnosing the issue with the old switch, anyone have any ideas? I've got dual PSUs and I tried running it on each one individually, but the issue persists. Not sure what else to look at, really, in the absence of any log output.
I was able to find a replacement ICX6610-48P from a local recycler for not too much of a premium over eBay prices and will swap it in after work today after licensing it and making sure it's updated to the latest FW per the guide.
As far as diagnosing the issue with the old switch, anyone have any ideas? I've got dual PSUs and I tried running it on each one individually, but the issue persists. Not sure what else to look at, really, in the absence of any log output.
Failing RAM maybe? Would likely be very hard if not impossible to catch in logs given the way the whole system is run from memory and virtually nothing is written back to the NAND storage. I don't know if that SODIMM look module is actual replaceable RAM or something else.
That's a good thought... I'll pop it open later and look and see and look in my parts bin for a replacement to test out.
Honestly I was kinda hoping for a stack trace or something like that to be written to the serial console by whatever kernel these things run before the reset, assuming it's a software issue or a catchable hardware failure. RAM failure might not qualify as that, though.
One other thought I had was the CMOS battery...I did glimpse something in the web UI when I was monitoring it for resets that indicated its clock was not set. But I would hope a failing CMOS battery in enterprise gear wouldn't cause the whole switch to go down...
@Dave Corder
The one additional diagnostic I can think of is plug in the serial, and open up a terminal to monitor outputs. Putty (and I assume others) can dump the output to a log file on the client PC. Maybe something useful will pop up right before the boot output when it reboots?
The one additional diagnostic I can think of is plug in the serial, and open up a terminal to monitor outputs. Putty (and I assume others) can dump the output to a log file on the client PC. Maybe something useful will pop up right before the boot output when it reboots?
the ram is easily replaceable but it's a very oddball type Centon Lot of 2 RD703G01 2GB PC2-5300 Reg ECC CL5 DDR2 667Mhz 1 Rank SODIMM 6-2 | eBay
swapping the ram would be my second thing, after checking/swapping PSUs (which it seems like you already did)
The plot thickens...After running fine for ~28 hours, my new-to-me switch spontaneously rebooted a couple times as well. This leads me to believe that the issue is not the switches themselves but that the UPS they have been connected to somehow triggering the PSUs to think the mains is disconnected.
The UPS is a CP1500PFCLCD (PFC Sinewave model, 1500VA / 1000W, Line Interactive). I spent a bit of time tonight getting its USB port wired up to my OPNsense router that it powers (along with the ICX and two DC bricks for my Comcast modem and a small 2.5 Gbps POE switch).
Interestingly, NUT shows that the UPS is actually only 78% charged right now (and charging) - I'm not sure why that would be - we haven't had any extended power outages or anything for a while, so I'd expect it to be sitting at 100%, unless it decided to do a runtime test or something recently that I wasn't aware of. Aside from that, I haven't noticed any odd behavior from any of the devices on it when the power did go out and it kicked over to battery power and the whole shebang has been running fine on this UPS for a year or more.
My hunch then is somehow related to either the PFC or the line-interactive features not being fully compatible with the PSUs in the ICX (my money would be on PFC, which is something I don't fully understand the mechanics of in the first place).
Transfer time is 4ms per spec which should be low enough. Maybe it’s taking slightly longer and the DC bricks have enough capacitance to not have a problem but the ICX trips?
The frequency at which it’s happening, do you have logs of if/why the UPS is switching over? Like I know my APC units will switch on under/over volt conditions and my rack mounted online/double conversion units will also trigger due to noise issues.
You could try plugging one PSU straight to mains power (with a suitable surge suppressor) and see if the switch stabilizes.
The frequency at which it’s happening, do you have logs of if/why the UPS is switching over? Like I know my APC units will switch on under/over volt conditions and my rack mounted online/double conversion units will also trigger due to noise issues.
You could try plugging one PSU straight to mains power (with a suitable surge suppressor) and see if the switch stabilizes.
I suspect it may be something along those lines. I don't have logs from the UPS, unfortunately, because it's a consumer-grade device (and I don't have the optional SNMP/network add-on for it). I've moved the PDU for my network gear to an APC rack-mount UPS and it's holding steady for now...fingers crossed. Stability is top priority since I WFH, but this weekend I might do some experimenting with various power scenarios and see what I can deduce.
I went down the path of replacing ram (thanks @fohdeesha) , didn't solve it. check air flow, trying single psu, from dual etc. etc.
the 6610 seems really really picky about power. I had a very used and abused eaton 5px 2200 and the switches worked well there till the batteries flaked out (would not maintain full charge any more). The UPS later crapped out so don't know if it was really batteries or ups.
I've had excellent uptime on streent power with regard to random reboots (none). Only resets have been from power glitches. I'm fortunate that I have very good street power.
It could be an ICX thing: I have 2 6450 and I've experienced micro power outages where my average electronic devices (TV, amplifier, NAS, PC, ...) would shut down or reboot. Except the 2 switches in question: they'd just be dead. They'd be electrically up as some LEDs would be up but they wouldn't work at all. On both occasions, I had to power cycle them to get them back.
So it could be they're very sensitive to power quality (or just made to work in a datacenter with really stable AC).
So it could be they're very sensitive to power quality (or just made to work in a datacenter with really stable AC).
I just got my ICX 6450 and I'm not having any luck with SFP+ DAC cables. They all say not supported.
This is my first 10g switch, so it's all new to me.
I'm trying to hook up my Dell R730 with a X520 10g card and I've also got a couple of other DL380 with HP 10G cards
What should I get? or should I just go SR lc to lc patch fiber? cable run is in the same rack so about 6 feet
And I also tried a 10Gtek
This is my first 10g switch, so it's all new to me.
I'm trying to hook up my Dell R730 with a X520 10g card and I've also got a couple of other DL380 with HP 10G cards
What should I get? or should I just go SR lc to lc patch fiber? cable run is in the same rack so about 6 feet
Code:
Port 1/2/1: Type : 10GE Passive Twinax 5m (SFP +) (Not supported)
Vendor: CISCO-TYCO Version: R
Part# : 1-2053783-3 Serial#: TED1729C53NAnd I also tried a 10Gtek
Code:
show media ethernet 1/2/3
Port 1/2/3: Type : 10GE Passive Twinax 3m (SFP +) (Not supported)
Vendor: OEM Version: 01
Part# : CAB-10GSFP-P3M Serial#: S220404040505@SylvainM Have you updated it and gotten the licensing taken care of already?
ICX6450 - Fohdeesha Docs
Then
ICX6450 Licensing - Fohdeesha Docs
As far as dac vs fiber, I went fiber because lc cables are cheaper per ft (and if you're patient, you can get lots of the modules for, like $1/each, 2nd hand), are more compact so storing them isn't nearly the chore, I can get lc keystones for various needs. They're a little more fragile than a dac (but imo, if you're manhandling something hard enough to break a fiber cable, you need to take a break).
A passive dac uses less power, iirc, and if you don't plan on running more than the 3m or so in a rack, a dac will do just fine.
ICX6450 - Fohdeesha Docs
Then
ICX6450 Licensing - Fohdeesha Docs
As far as dac vs fiber, I went fiber because lc cables are cheaper per ft (and if you're patient, you can get lots of the modules for, like $1/each, 2nd hand), are more compact so storing them isn't nearly the chore, I can get lc keystones for various needs. They're a little more fragile than a dac (but imo, if you're manhandling something hard enough to break a fiber cable, you need to take a break).
A passive dac uses less power, iirc, and if you don't plan on running more than the 3m or so in a rack, a dac will do just fine.
anything other than brocade branded stuff will show that message under show media, it doesn't affect anything and you can ignore it
Has anyone started reverse engineering the VDX license logic? Sometimes they can be found for very little money, so VDX6740 can be a nice alternative to something like Arista 7050TX if you can get all the 10GBase-T ports unlocked