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

[fohdeesha]

Assuming you already have a spare rj45 to db9 dongle: Mini-USB(M) to RJ45(M), 8ft, Brocade Console Cable, + 9pin(F) to RJ45(F) adapter | eBay

If not just buy one as well (doesn't have to he brocade branded) RJ45 to RS232, DB9 9-Pin, Female to Female, CAT5/6, Brocade P/N 50-0000112-01 | eBay

 

[svtkobra7]

LMGTFY #1232



OK fine, not the best use of that joke ...

But search + Search this thread only + "console" works too.

 

[tjk]

Assuming you already have a spare rj45 to db9 dongle: Mini-USB(M) to RJ45(M), 8ft, Brocade Console Cable, + 9pin(F) to RJ45(F) adapter | eBay

If not just buy one as well (doesn't have to he brocade branded) RJ45 to RS232, DB9 9-Pin, Female to Female, CAT5/6, Brocade P/N 50-0000112-01 | eBay

Wow from 10 bucks to 35 bucks, no thanks. Here I come amazon.

 

[fohdeesha]

That part is $85 on Amazon last I looked, 35 is probably by far as cheap as you'll get it

 

[tjk]

That part is $85 on Amazon last I looked, 35 is probably by far as cheap as you'll get it

I'll figure out a way to Rube Goldberg it before I spend $35 bucks on $5 bucks worth of pieces.

 

[arglebargle]

I bought $12 or $15 RJ45 to USB cisco switch cables for mine on amazon, let me look through my purchase history.

Here's the one I'm using, they're down to $11 now. I have a pi plugged into each of my switches with these while I learn how to use them, that way it's harder for me to lock myself out of the device entirely.

 

[Ouraing]

Can someone link me to the console cable needed for the 7750 switches?

Brocade ICX 7750 Specifications
Connector options
•1003/1000 Mbps, 10 Gbps 10GBASE-T ports: RJ-45
• 1/10 Gbps SFP+ ports
• 40 Gbps QSFP+ ports
• Out-of-band Ethernet management: 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ-45
• Console management: mini-USB serial port (Mini-B plug)
• File transfer: USB port, (standard-A plug)

You just need a USB cable.
You just need a USB to serial cable (all hail Fohdeesha)

 

[fohdeesha]

I bought $12 or $15 RJ45 to USB cisco switch cables for mine on amazon, let me look through my purchase history.

Here's the one I'm using, they're down to $11 now. I have a pi plugged into each of my switches with these while I learn how to use them, that way it's harder for me to lock myself out of the device entirely.

the ICX7750 (and most of the icx7xxx series) do not use RJ45 ports like the icx6xxx line, they have a mini USB connector, and it does NOT run USB. It's rs232 serial over a mini-usb connector, so you need the cable I linked.

You just need a USB cable.

nope, see above. figured you guys would trust me on these switches by now

 

[fohdeesha]

adding a "new" ICX to the guide soon. beware, it's a beefer

 

[Ouraing]

the ICX7750 (and most of the icx7xxx series) do not use RJ45 ports like the icx6xxx line, they have a mini USB connector, and it does NOT run USB. It's rs232 serial over a mini-usb connector, so you need the cable I linked.

That's the cable I use with my 6450 and Aruba S2500/3500s, but this is a USB to RJ45 cable, how would that work with the ICX7750 mini-usb serial port? The RMK for the 7750 looks like it comes with a mini-usb to RJ45 cable which then plugs into a RJ45 to DB9 connector, why wouldn't they spend the couple of pennies to just put a usb to serial port chip in them and let you use regular USB cables??

 

[tjk]

the ICX7750 (and most of the icx7xxx series) do not use RJ45 ports like the icx6xxx line, they have a mini USB connector, and it does NOT run USB. It's rs232 serial over a mini-usb connector, so you need the cable I linked.



nope, see above. figured you guys would trust me on these switches by now

Oh, I fully trust you and am not questioning your answer, just sucks to pay $35 bucks for $4 worth of parts.

 

[fohdeesha]

I know I know just kidding with you guys someone maybe 10 or 15 pages back did make his own ICX7xxx series cable if I remember right

 

[Emdee]

So after lurking around a bit I joined the ICX6610 club and managed to buy two of them for fairly cheap.

Two questions:

1. The license output shows this:

SSH@Brocade01#sh lice
Index    Lic Mode        Lic Name               Lid/Serial No  Lic Type    Status     Lic Period    Lic Capacity
Stack unit 1:
1        Node Lock       ICX6610-PREM-LIC-SW    dzrHKGOlFJH    Normal      Active     Unlimited         0

This means it only has the premium license right? Not the 10Gbit ones?

2. Although the switch itself is relatively quiet, I've noticed that the PSU fans spin up and down every minute or so, has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Snorf]

adding a "new" ICX to the guide soon. beware, it's a beefer

Is there a super secret pre-release product ID unveiling so we can buy them up before the prices sky rocket?

Sad day yesterday

One of my ICX7150-C12P's died..... It just stopped dead no lights nothing. Pulled the power supply and it looks good but no output. Anyone know what it outputs to the switch components so I could rig something up from a computer power supply for testing what died first?

Snorf

 

[svtkobra7]

someone maybe 10 or 15 pages back did make his own ICX7xxx series cable if I remember right

• And there is another guy who was bored, started cutting a bunch of CAT, plugged it into his switch, thought it looked like a snake, and called it a snake test. You guys ... sheesh.
• And wait, who are you again?

• Much love = i will always remember the gent who helped this network knowledge deficient idiot set up his first vlan.
• But check it, I started to get crazy with those vlans and figured out how to use 1 phy port for wan and lan port groups, such that a router / firewall type thing could use 1 port - I think I will call it a router on a stick! Almost as creative as a snake test!
  
• OK - actually did that - works fantastico with 100/70 uplink. Considering I set up pf, the firewall is prob more like a sieve though LOL.

 

[fohdeesha]

So after lurking around a bit I joined the ICX6610 club and managed to buy two of them for fairly cheap.

Two questions:

1. The license output shows this:

SSH@Brocade01#sh lice
Index    Lic Mode        Lic Name               Lid/Serial No  Lic Type    Status     Lic Period    Lic Capacity
Stack unit 1:
1        Node Lock       ICX6610-PREM-LIC-SW    dzrHKGOlFJH    Normal      Active     Unlimited         0

This means it only has the premium license right? Not the 10Gbit ones?

2. Although the switch itself is relatively quiet, I've noticed that the PSU fans spin up and down every minute or so, has anyone else had this problem?

correct, thats only the advanced routing license, no 10gb. pm me

as for the fans spinning up, its probably cycling up to fan speed 2 because wherever you have them is right on the edge of the speed 1 > speed 2 temp threshold. check the output of "show chassis" next time it ramps up, it should show what speed things are at

 

[Emdee]

correct, thats only the advanced routing license, no 10gb. pm me

PM sent! Thanks

as for the fans spinning up, its probably cycling up to fan speed 2 because wherever you have them is right on the edge of the speed 1 > speed 2 temp threshold. check the output of "show chassis" next time it ramps up, it should show what speed things are at

Yeah, that is what it feels / sounds like.

SSH@Brocade01>sh chas
The stack unit 1 chassis info:

Power supply 1 (AC - Regular) present, status ok
        Model Number:   23-0000144-01
        Serial Number:  0AN
        Firmware Ver:    B
Power supply 1 Fan Air Flow Direction:  Front to Back
Power supply 2 (AC - Regular) present, status ok
        Model Number:   23-0000144-01
        Serial Number:  085
        Firmware Ver:    B
Power supply 2 Fan Air Flow Direction:  Front to Back

Fan 1 ok, speed (auto): [[1]]<->2
Fan 2 ok, speed (auto): [[1]]<->2

Fan controlled temperature: 51.0 deg-C

Fan speed switching temperature thresholds:
                Speed 1: NM<----->78       deg-C
                Speed 2:       73<-----> 83 deg-C (shutdown)

Fan 1 Air Flow Direction:  Front to Back
Fan 2 Air Flow Direction:  Front to Back
MAC 1 Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 44.5 deg-C
CPU Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 40.0 deg-C
sensor A Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 25.5 deg-C
sensor B Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 34.0 deg-C
sensor C Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 23.0 deg-C
sensor D Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 20.5 deg-C
stacking card Temperature Readings:
        Current temperature : 51.0 deg-C
        Warning level.......: 80.0 deg-C
        Shutdown level......: 83.0 deg-C
Boot Prom MAC : 748e.f8f9.851c
Management MAC: 748e.f8f9.851c

However, I'm pretty sure it's only the fans of the power supply that ramp up and down semi-constantly. The fans of the switch itself don't have this behavior.

 

[Sleyk]

Oh lord...Is anyone still using the Quanta's? Fohdeesh, you are the man bro. I'm still reading through this, but safe to say, no one touches you on these bro.

Amazing job and thanks for all your help with these.

You too Kapone.

 

[Sleyk]

Ok! finished reading through all 76 freaking pages. My goodness. My eyes are sore.

I have 2 on best offer for the 6450's. We'll see. Im not too confident on price though. Im a cheap bastard.

 

[arglebargle]

Ok! finished reading through all 76 freaking pages. My goodness. My eyes are sore.

I have 2 on best offer for the 6450's. We'll see. Im not too confident on price though. Im a cheap bastard.

Setup email alerts for switches under $120 or so. They're selling for more now than they were a year ago but they still pop up every couple of weeks.