Brocade VDX 6740T-56-1G Switch as 10Gbe RJ45

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Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
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Hello folks, I've found on Ebay a cheap Brocade VDX 6740T-56-1G.

I've bought it without having any information, but the company dismissed it because is a EOL/EOS switch.
So, I've built a USB Mini-B serial cable and I've booted it.

I've followed the tutorial to reset password on Dell site and now I can enter on the cli

It is strange that following the reset password procedure, also the hostname is changed (from GWCORE04 to sw0) and I don't know if now the configuration is real at factory default or in another state, because during the first boot I got:


Dcmd Database is corrupted. Hence, clearing the database.
2022/09/29-13:15:22, [DCM-3053], 32901, SW/0 | Active, INFO, VDX6740T-1G, Dcmd database corruption was detected. The system will startup with the default configuration for this database.


Anyway the firmware is very old (5.0.1c) and I wish to update to the last one I have (7.4.1b, thanks @fohdeesha).
I also read that some units could have a Compact Flash corrupted and I think to follow this procedure:

How to check a VDX for CF Issue using the “badblocks” command

Now, I wish to ask, before checking CF and updating the firmware, how I can look for possible POD license inside this unit (I don't know if check and update maybe delete them) or if anyone could give me some POD license in case I lost them.

I wish to use it as a 10 Gbe and connect it using the 40 Gb QSFP+ ports to my ICX7450-48P

I thank you in advance anyone can help me
 
Last edited:

Jason Antes

Active Member
Feb 28, 2020
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Twin Cities
The license is encrypted. If you can get to the cli you should be able to get the licenses. @fohdeesha really helped me out on this and was able to retrieve mine when I had the CF issue and had to replace it which necessitated gettting the licenses. I wish I still had the putty logs so I could help ya out, but really fohdeesha is the expert and I would still be mostly unhelpful.

This is a fully licensed 6740-64-R (48 port SFP+ w/ 4 40Gb ports), the first 24 ports are included so this shows the upgrade licenses.
Code:
sw0# show license

rbridge-id: 1
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
       10G Port Upgrade license
       Feature name:PORT_10G_UPGRADE
       License is valid
       Capacity: 24
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
       40G Port Upgrade license
       Feature name:PORT_40G_UPGRADE
       License is valid
       Capacity: 4
[code]
 

Jason Antes

Active Member
Feb 28, 2020
224
76
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Twin Cities
Oh, do you still have 7.4.1b? I have 7.4.0a and wouldn't mind getting the newer version and installing it before selling it or at least being able to include it for whomever buys it.

Thanks.
 

Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
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I tried the command and I got this:

Code:
sw0# show license all
The cluster has 1 switches

rbridge-id: 40
No entries available for rbridge-id 40
sw0# sh dpod
rbridge-id: 40
   48 10G ports are available in this switch
    4 40G ports are available in this switch
   No 10G Port Upgrade license is installed
   No 40G Port Upgrade license is installed
     Dynamic POD method is in use

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

   2 40G port assignments are provisioned for use in this switch:
         2 40G port assignments are provisioned by the base switch license
   0 40G ports are assigned to installed licenses:
         0 40G ports are assigned to the base switch 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:
     40/0/49, 40/0/50, 40/0/51, 40/0/52
   2 license reservations are still available for use by unassigned ports
Why I see the note about cluster?
Is it normal to have rbridge-id: 40 and not 1?
 

Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
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Do you think does it have a base license or did I lose them with password reset procedure?
Or are they hidden beacuse it is part of a fabric?
 
Last edited:

Jason Antes

Active Member
Feb 28, 2020
224
76
28
Twin Cities
Password reset shouldn't nuke the licenses, especially since all the rest of the config is still there. I'd wager it came with only a base license.
 

Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
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Thank you very much. I was in doubt because the hostname changed as well to sw0.
So I will check the CF and upgrade the fw to new version

is it better to update from noscli (FTP/SCP) from 5.0.1c to 7.4.1b or make a netinstall from USB?
The actual config is not mine, so at the end I wish to have a factory default config.

About licenses, now that this switch is EOL/EOS there is a method to enable the 10Gbe ports?
 

Balteck

Member
Mar 14, 2018
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6
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52
Thank you very much. I wrote him and meanwhile I will update the switch with new fw version.

I hope to use 10Gbe ports for my home lab soon.:)