Brocade VDX 6740

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Damo

Active Member
Sep 7, 2022
110
28
28
Having an issue with this switch.

When I plug my device in it instantly shows

Code:
sw0# 2022/09/17-09:48:20, [NSM-1042], 27922, SW/0 | Active | DCE, WARNING, sw0,  Unqualified SFP transceiver for interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/0/4 is detected.
These cables are 3m (10ft) Brocade 10G-SFPP-TWX-P-0301 Compatible 10G SFP+ Passive Direct Attach Copper Twinax Cable - based off the following I thought they would work? https://cloud.kapostcontent.net/pub...b-3f9e6dd10c51/vdx-transceiver-support-matrix

When I plug the other end into a Brocade ICX6610 I get the following

Code:
sw0# 2022/09/17-09:48:31, [NSM-1003], 27923, SW/0 | Active | DCE, INFO, sw0,  Interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/0/4 is link down.
2022/09/17-09:48:34, [NSM-1001], 27924, SW/0 | Active | DCE, INFO, sw0,  Interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/0/4 is online.
2022/09/17-09:48:36, [ONMD-1007], 27925, SW/0 | Active | DCE, INFO, sw0, Received First LLDP PDU on TenGigabitEthernet 1/0/4 from MAC address mac address f4e9.d449.bc83 after LLDP RX enabled or timeout.
2022/09/17-09:48:58, [ONMD-1007], 27926, SW/0 | Active | DCE, INFO, sw0, Received First LLDP PDU on TenGigabitEthernet 1/0/4 from MAC address mac address 0cc4.7a8a.d7ae after LLDP RX enabled or timeout.


sw0# show vcs
Code:
Config Mode    : Local-Only
VCS Mode       : Fabric Cluster
VCS ID         : 1
Total Number of Nodes           : 1
Rbridge-Id       WWN                            Management IP   VCS Status       Fabric Status        HostName
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1               >10:00:50:EB:1A:75:F7:D0*       10.0.10.54      Online           Online               sw0

sw0# show dpod
Code:
rbridge-id: 1
   48 10G ports are available in this switch
    4 40G ports are available in this switch
   10G Port Upgrade license is installed
   40G Port Upgrade license is installed
     Dynamic POD method is in use

  32 10G port assignments are provisioned for use in this switch:
        24 10G port assignments are provisioned by the base switch license
         8 10G port assignments are provisioned by the 10G Port Upgrade license
   1 10G port is assigned to installed licenses:
         1 10G port is assigned to the base switch license
         0 10G ports are assigned to the 10G Port Upgrade license
  10G ports assigned to the base switch license:
     1/0/4
  10G ports assigned to the 10G Port Upgrade license:
     None
  10G ports not assigned to a license:
     1/0/1, 1/0/2, 1/0/3, 1/0/5, 1/0/6, 1/0/7, 1/0/8, 1/0/9, 1/0/10, 1/0/11
     1/0/12, 1/0/13, 1/0/14, 1/0/15, 1/0/16, 1/0/17, 1/0/18, 1/0/19, 1/0/20, 1/0/21
     1/0/22, 1/0/23, 1/0/24, 1/0/25, 1/0/26, 1/0/27, 1/0/28, 1/0/29, 1/0/30, 1/0/31
     1/0/32, 1/0/33, 1/0/34, 1/0/35, 1/0/36, 1/0/37, 1/0/38, 1/0/39, 1/0/40, 1/0/41
     1/0/42, 1/0/43, 1/0/44, 1/0/45, 1/0/46, 1/0/47, 1/0/48
  31 license reservations are still available for use by unassigned ports

   2 40G port assignments are provisioned for use in this switch:
         0 40G port assignments are provisioned by the base switch license
         2 40G port assignments are provisioned by the 40G Port Upgrade license
   0 40G ports are assigned to installed licenses:
         0 40G ports are assigned to the base switch license
         0 40G ports are assigned to the 40G Port Upgrade license
  40G ports assigned to the base switch license:
     None
  40G ports assigned to the 40G Port Upgrade license:
     None
  40G ports not assigned to a license:
     1/0/49, 1/0/50, 1/0/51, 1/0/52
   2 license reservations are still available for use by unassigned ports
 

Jason Antes

Active Member
Feb 28, 2020
224
76
28
Twin Cities
Can anyone suggest some cheap compatible SPF+ cables need 2-3meter

Bought "10GBASE-CU Passive Direct Attach Copper Twinax SFP+ Cable Compatible for Cisco SFP-H10GB-CU2M" from Amazon but kept showing

"Incompatible SFP transceiver for interface TenGigabitEthernet"
The ones I use are Proline. Not sure if they are even sold anymore.
 

CalidLore

New Member
Aug 19, 2022
10
2
3
I can verify that the FS.com 10gb DAC cables for Cisco work on mine. I can also verify that the FS.com 10GB SM optics work as well. I would return the amazon ones and get them from FS. Using 12 DACs and 8 optics and zero problems.
 

charles3ct

New Member
Aug 16, 2021
11
1
3
Any options out there on replacing the fans to something quieter ??

I have mine up and running okay - but would love to swap out the fans for a quieter experience.

what are the specs on these things ?
 

grenskul

Active Member
Nov 8, 2020
145
68
28
I just bought a pair of VDX 6720s with the port on-demand license so they have all 24 ports active. One came fully populated with 10Gb SR optics too so that saved a ton. The firmware is way off between the two however (fohdeesha just PM'd you) so working on getting that resolved.

I also went through a real ordeal with the 10Gb Intel x520 NICs. They seem to only support two different SFP+ modules but I used NathanA's guide to rewrite the EEPROM to accept unsupported optics and it all works great now. Thought I would share in case somebody else comes across this issue.
Can you do a mesure of power draw and noise on this ? I'm looking at the 6710 as an alternative to the 6450-24 since the latter became stupid expensive lately .
 

Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
33
6
8
52
Last edited:

Kartoff

New Member
Feb 17, 2017
26
5
3
46
VDX 6470 is probably the most open switch I have used regarding optics.
I can't agree with that :) Based on our experience this is the most fastidious switch... Talking for myself I haven't so many problems with transceivers compatibility, but some fellows of mine had. They told me to be careful before I started buying VDX switches because of that... Even my Cisco Nexus 6001 has command to be forced to be ok with unsupported transceivers, but VDX seems doesn't have such... What I mostly like about VDX 6740 is that they have ISL, and you can spread some switches here and there, link them with more than one link and don't worry about loops, spanning tree etc. they just deal with everything themselves :)
 

Marc_

Always a school day
Jul 22, 2022
66
10
8
Has anyone ever tried to retrieve a license string from an old CF card? Mine work well enough to look at the files but not boot the system. Not sure if the string is stored in a location I'm able to get to though?
 

Marc_

Always a school day
Jul 22, 2022
66
10
8
you see your key via command "show logging raslog | i license" on working switch.
The issue I have is I don't have any that boot from the old flash cards. I can see the files on them but in a chassis they will not boot so using the CLI is impossible.
 

Renat

Member
Jun 8, 2016
57
19
8
41
1. you can try to view all log files.
Cause system every boot deletes and adds license to switch from database you can catch it in log.

2. you can try to view information in postgresql base (/etc/fabos/Dcmd/)
 
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Marc_

Always a school day
Jul 22, 2022
66
10
8
1. you can try to view all log files.
Cause system every boot deletes and adds license to switch from database you can catch it in log.

2. you can try to view information in postgresql base (/etc/fabos/Dcmd/)
I've managed to find this in the files but not sure if this is any use, system doesn't recognise the string:

[1]FOS sw0 U[1]L
[1]( SW€ licd misc.c sRMS_change_lic [1]WbÕÕ M@WbÕÕ PP [1] # *B 60SOICehpL7gL7PCw3PwLnSnR4IXzGfKvpV8Dz5fpIVsJRK5U7DTItD8VHI1Z5FOfA94n3hc8W9UuRHKG8lURYL0MGcY7YrdgPXYlBZP3wkk3oSvtwr8x1xxxE,efR# Added V ö [1]
SEC-3051 The license key %s is %s. [1]FOS VDX6740T V[1]L
[1]( SW€ @licd ! @misc.c sRMS_change_lic [1]WbÕÕ


v}WbÕÕ


}ê [1] # *B 60SOICehpL7gL7PCw3PwLnSnR4IXzGfKvpV8Dz5fpIVsJRK5U7DTItD8VHI1Z5FOfA94n3hc8W9UuRHKG8lURYL0MGcY7YrdgPXYlBZP3wkk3oSvtwr8x1xxxE,efR# Added V ö [1]
SEC-3051 The license key %s is %s.
 

Renat

Member
Jun 8, 2016
57
19
8
41
Yes, Key starts with "*B " and end with "#"

This is your key "*B 60SOICehpL7gL7PCw3PwLnSnR4IXzGfKvpV8Dz5fpIVsJRK5U7DTItD8VHI1Z5FOfA94n3hc8W9UuRHKG8lURYL0MGcY7YrdgPXYlBZP3wkk3oSvtwr8x1xxxE,efR#"

one long string, now you can save it. it locked to switch ID (WWN, like a FOS series of Brocade)

But this sequence is wrong - you lost 6 symbols , try to get it more accurately.
 
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Marc_

Always a school day
Jul 22, 2022
66
10
8
Yes, Key starts with "*B " and end with "#"

This is your key "*B 60SOICehpL7gL7PCw3PwLnSnR4IXzGfKvpV8Dz5fpIVsJRK5U7DTItD8VHI1Z5FOfA94n3hc8W9UuRHKG8lURYL0MGcY7YrdgPXYlBZP3wkk3oSvtwr8x1xxxE,efR#"

one long string, now you can save it. it locked to switch ID (WWN, like a FOS series of Brocade)
Now I just need to figure out which flash card came from each switch as I didn't organise them when I took them out :rolleyes: This one is now on though!

Thanks for the help :)
 

mbze430

Member
Nov 1, 2019
46
2
8
Someone mentioned micro code for the PHY micro processor firmware. Anyone have those? I am having issue with some issue with the 10GB ports as well.

I don't know if anyone knows this but there is a v7.4.1g firmware as well. I don't have it. But I did find a release notes of it
Network OS 7.4.0 Release Note (extremenetworks.com)
 
Last edited:

kevinds

New Member
Aug 19, 2017
5
0
1
I'm missing something... Likely obvious, but I can't find it...

I picked up a VDX 6740T switch that had a bad CompactFlash card.. Replaced the card with a (genuine) Transcend 8GB from Amazon, not a big deal.

Mostly followed the NetInstall instructions using the 7.4.1f package, Q A: How to perform netinstall on VDX 6740 and 6940 via USB? | Extreme Portal. I say mostly because I just used Linux instead of installing a bunch of stuff to make Windows understand Ext2.. No apparent/obvious issues with the install.

Code:
sw0# show version

Network Operating System Software
Network Operating System Version: 7.4.1f
Copyright (c) 2017-2018 Extreme Networks, Inc.
Firmware name:      7.4.1f
Build Time:         12:48:00 Aug  9, 2022
Install Time:       00:06:45 Jan  1, 1970
Kernel:             2.6.34.6

BootProm:           1.0.1
Control Processor:  e500mc with 4096 MB of memory

Slot    Name    Primary/Secondary Versions                         Status
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SW/0    NOS     7.4.1f                                             ACTIVE*
                7.4.1f
SW/1    NOS     7.4.1f                                             STANDBY
                7.4.1f

My question is this.. How do I get the switch out of "Logical Chassis Mode"?

Every manual and guide say, by default, the switch should be in "vcs" mode but this one is not..

Code:
show vcs
Config Mode    : Distributed
VCS Mode       : Logical Chassis
Many (most) commands just give me,

>This operation is not supported in logical chassis mode.

Everything I find is the instructions for putting the switch into "logical chassis mode", not out of, I tried adjusting the commands but no effect.. I can change the VCS ID and Rbridge-Id but no real effect.

So... Am I missing something obvious?

It might help if I could find the manuals.. Does anybody have a copy?

"Brocade Network OS Administrator’s Guide" and "Brocade Network OS Command Reference Guide" for 7.4.1
 
Last edited:

klui

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
824
453
63