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Brocade ICX Series (cheap & powerful 10gbE/40gbE switching)

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XPEric

New Member
Mar 28, 2024
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Does anyone happen to have the "brocade-12-19-2023.zip" that was previously available for download from the website in OP's post? The site seems to be down, and while the Internet Archive has a copy of the text of the instructions, it doesn't have the file. I do apologize if this was resolved in a previous reply, but I can't seem to find anything.

Thanks,
Eric
 

R3Z3N

Member
Jan 29, 2024
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Yes, I almost always download directions...because I have a tendency to bring down my homelab just to try stuff....my better half may be unhappy, but she has no need for any networking at the house as she is perfectly fine on 5G. PM'd you the zip btw.

Anyway, got my switch working fine from a few pages back. Oddly POE hasn't been a problem starting up the past 2 reboots. Now to figure out DHCP via PFSense and Routing on the 7250...but alas the Brocade is non-authoritative and PFSense well...can't do DHCP outside of the subnets one has assigned. Hmm, wanted to go to VyOS but alas no VPP there anymore either. Ah bugger Broadcom TW*TS! May end up just paying for TNSR then.
 
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fohdeesha

Kaini Industries
Nov 20, 2016
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fohdeesha.com
apologies, the site has been up on a new server since this morning but namecheap seems to have their own definition of "updating your ns glue records". I'm calling them now to get this fixed and probably moving registrars because this is not the first time I've had issues setting glue records with them. in the meantime you can get to the site by sticking this in your hosts file

23.139.82.211 fohdeesha.com


EDIT: it's finally updated, should be reachable now
 
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blunden

Active Member
Nov 29, 2019
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Hmm, wanted to go to VyOS but alas no VPP there anymore either. Ah bugger Broadcom TW*TS! May end up just paying for TNSR then.
VPP for VyOS is only available as a plugin for which they haven't decided if it's going to be a paid feature or not yet.

There is a homelab license option for TNSR, unless they've removed that again. You never know with Netgate. ;) There can be an issue with updating kernel version when on the free version (on certain hardware) though since you don't have access to certain packages from the paid repository.

 

sergi0

Active Member
Dec 4, 2016
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I think you would need to undo the tagging and dual modes on 15 and 17 first.
I migrate the 6450-24 toward a 7150-24 as it is fanless (everything is in a closet so I am hunting for lower wattage when I can). I try to put my vlan conf that you help build, but it seems that in 7150, the dual-mode option is deprecated. I read a couple of docs and understand that I need to do something differently but so far no luc.
Any ideas ?
 

R3Z3N

Member
Jan 29, 2024
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Yes no dual mode needed anymore. Just use untagged and tagged vlans. Of course only 1 untagged per port.

I recommend downloading the manuals for the Fastiron os you are using. Even as a CLI noob( however IT repair for decades) the rather large manuals have made things easy to follow, along with Terry's videos. The hard thing about the manuals is they don't explain concepts, but this is why I want to take a night class even 20 years after college.
 
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sergi0

Active Member
Dec 4, 2016
136
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Yes no dual mode needed anymore. Just use untagged and tagged vlans. Of course only 1 untagged per port.

I recommend downloading the manuals for the Fastiron os you are using. Even as a CLI noob( however IT repair for decades) the rather large manuals have made things easy to follow, along with Terry's videos. The hard thing about the manuals is they don't explain concepts, but this is why I want to take a night class even 20 years after college.
I just found out Terry video and I will download the manual. I was looking for the dual-mode option and finally discover it was not needed anymore.
The setup is now complete, I will probably migrate the switch tonight or tomorrow morning :).
Thanks for all the helps I got on this forum.
 
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MacOS_Guy

New Member
Mar 7, 2024
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I currently have (2) ICX-7250's and (1) ICX-6650. The 6650 is mainly to hold VLAN's for 10gb networks on different subnets with no LAN or Internet connection. Before I open this up and try to modify the fans in some way shape or form (similar to what some guy did for a 6610 maybe), does anyone know of a 48 port 10gb SFP+ switch thats maybe a little more modifiable or quieter? Everything going to this switch is fiber.
 

KeeWay

New Member
Jan 16, 2024
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I found this thread searching for a switch with enough POE and SFP+ ports and so far these are awesome and many thanks to @fohdeesha for this thread.

So I thought I would post my fan experiences in trying to quiet down the ICX7250-24P switches. In my quest to mount the switch on my desk I found
nothing I tried from SAN ACE, Delta, SUNON, FXOCONN would get quiet enough once the switch booted up and set themselves without lots of coil whine to speed-1. I also found that by putting in slower spinning fans to quiet the system they also did not have enough static pressure to pull the air through the switch and it overheated or ran way to hot.

For the final solution I then opted to use 3 Noctua(NF-A4x20 FLX) quiet fans pulling the air out and one generic fan pushing air in directly over the switch controller heatsink and this seemed to solve the heat/noise issue in my case. I am only running 1 actual POE device currently with a handfull of fiber/ethernet connections and the temps have been stable around 41C(MGMT) and 49C(PSU).

Here is what I did in detail to my switches maybe it will help someone else :)
Cover modifications:
I cut a 60mm hole just over the controller heatsink for the 60x15mm fan (there is only 18mm clearance betwen the cover and heatsink). for the 4 holes i used the fan guard to estimate the hole placements.
1-60mm Fan Hole.jpg

Here you can see I cut out the existing vents holes to allow the most air flow and try to eliminate any turbulance noise. Then the 3rd hole (internal mount is already there) I used a 40mm hole saw to cut that out but I think I could have used a 38mm hole saw just fine.
3rd_fan_mounte-hole.jpg

I also put in a panel jack for the fan power so that I can use an external power supply that is adjustable that way I can adjust the fan speed/noise to my likeling. You can see that I had to cut a hole large enough for the jack to clear but I was a little off so i used a dremel to ream it out ;).
Fan_power.jpg
external power.jpg

Wiring:
here you can see the panel jack wiring into the fan splitter which is 1 to 3 splitter. i just cut off an old fan plug then spliced it to the panel jack cables.
Fan_splitter from panel jack.jpg

This next part is a little more complicated so opted to purchase some fan plugs/pins and crimped my own wires. I also had to use Two 3 wire fan extensions.
From the splitter to the fan extension wires you can see from the pics you have to make sure you wire the voltage directly to the fans then run the speed sensor wire to the motherboard. You also need to make sure that the ground from your fan power is tied to the motherboard and your fans othwise your fan speed will not be seen at the switch motherboard.
Fan1-2_1st conection to splitter and MB.jpg
Fan1-2_2nd conection to fans.jpg

Since this was a generic fan and a little more noisy than the rest of the Noctua used a Noctua Y cable and a Noctua low noise cable I had from other fans to match the noise output of all 3 Noctua fans.
3rd fan splitter.jpg

here is everything tucked away before putting it all back together.
fan wiring completed.jpg

After running it over night here is my temps and sound :). The PSU is higher than I like but I might adress that later and maybe just put another 60mm fan there as well. The sound was taken right at the switch and then less than 3 feet away where my keyboard is and since my sound meter only goes down to 30db min it did not register.
sound next to switch.jpgsound next to keyboard.jpg
Switch-Temp.jpg
Switch-Fan-Speed.jpg
 

servethehomefan

New Member
Mar 31, 2024
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I have a 6450-24P and 6450-48P in the mail to play with and ultimately be in a new home I'm building. The two units will be approximately 100 feet away from each other. The walls are open and I want to make a permanent connection to the two units now and treat them as stacked. However, I have absolutely no idea what type of cables I need to make this happen. Prior to running into this thread I already ran one CAT6 cable and a single fiber optic cable (specs say LC to LC OM3 Corning 10GB) which I now don't think is correct or complete.

1. Can someone guide me on what type of cable, how many and what other type of accessories I'll need to make this work. I am a complete novice when it comes to fiber, SFP+, the transceivers and other misc accessories and devices more common in data centers and enterprise environments.

2. Also can someone link to the appropriate console cable I'll need? I'm sure someone on Amazon or eBay has one that works with the 6450 but it seems so cryptic reading "DB9/RJ45" cable when searching Amazon and eBay. I have USB-A and thunderbolt3 on my laptop so I'm not sure if I need one part or two parts to be able to connect into the console and start my beef journey. I understand how to use screen to view the feed once connected just don't know the exact cable(s) needed.
 

itronin

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2018
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Denver, Colorado
Prior to running into this thread I already ran one CAT6 cable and a single fiber optic cable (specs say LC to LC OM3 Corning 10GB) which I now don't think is correct or complete.
If you want a ring stack then two pairs of LC to LC.

If you want your future self to thank you then run OS2 / single mode.

I try to run at least 1 more pair than I think I will need (depending on space / budget).

2. Also can someone link to the appropriate console cable I'll need? I'm sure someone on Amazon or eBay has one that works with the 6450 but it seems so cryptic reading "DB9/RJ45" cable when searching Amazon and eBay. I have USB-A and thunderbolt3 on my laptop so I'm not sure if I need one part or two parts to be able to connect into the console and start my beef journey. I understand how to use screen to view the feed once connected just don't know the exact cable(s) needed.
USB A USB C
 

R3Z3N

Member
Jan 29, 2024
32
8
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1) you could run an active optical dac like this if indeed 100ft is enough

Otherwise I'd run 2 pairs of 2-6 strand fiber. Om3/4 will work, I prefer OS2. OM is multimode using leds, os is single mode using lasers. Om3 is good for 100gbps at 100 meters or less. OM4 is good for 100gbps at 150m or less. All overkill for 10gbps but you might as well. You will be using lc ends.

For transceivers, brocade doesn't care. Of course sfp+ which is up to 10gbps, and pay attention to light wavelength. Ie you will probably be using 850nm for your rin length. Each pair needs to use the same wavelength. You should also pair for the same distance, ie 30m.
 
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servethehomefan

New Member
Mar 31, 2024
19
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If you want a ring stack then two pairs of LC to LC.

If you want your future self to thank you then run OS2 / single mode.
Where is the good choice for buying OS2? I have no problem spending a bit more for being super future proof. If going OS2 would I still need a pair of the cable or is that only for OM3 and OM4 because they are "multimode"?
 

R3Z3N

Member
Jan 29, 2024
32
8
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I'd do a pair of cables for redundancy/ future proofing. Ie one breaks. The number of strands is the same reasoning and the cable is cheap enough. Think of it like copper cabling, how many strands are there in Cat 6? However cat 6 needs 8 strands per link. Fiber CAN be one called bi directional but typically 2 strands per link. Buy pre terminated LC to LC duplex as your walls are open. Compare transceiver costs for OM3/4 and OS2 to determine whT you want to run for cables and trancievers. Is this all in wall? Riser/plenum, outside etc?I did not buy pre terminated but my house was finished, so it's ~$600 per drop to terminate via trustworthy techs.

FS.com website is well organized but seems like a generic website for Chinese switches and fake reviews. I still have had no problems with them, and generally the rep is helpful. I found a POE±+ 801.11bt switch I wanted but it's actually not bt and had to explain to the rep the issue. They kept the poe±+ wording though. I use it to find what I'm looking for often then buy used on ebay for personal, especially for nics.Feel free to pm me, we can discuss over phone as well.