So the fans were wired exactly the same as a regular four pin fan is in the same order and with the typical colors even, only the connector itself needed to change. I made an adapter cable from a pigtail that I had which had the same plug on one end by soldering that to a regular four pin fan socket on the opposite end so I can swap them out or back to originals quickly and easily.
Dell N2224X-ON Power-Switch 24x 2.5GbE 4x SFP28 25GbE 2x QSFP+ ($257.99)
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I picked up the N2224X-ON. I've got 4 systems I need to connect via the SFP ports: 3x 25Gig and 1x 10G (a NAS that I can't upgrade).
From previous comments in this thread, it seems that I can't mix 3x 25G NICs and 1x 10G NIC on the front panel QSFP28 ports, so I'll have to use a breakout cable and one of the 40Gb stacking ports with a breakout cable.
So, I need to pick up
- 3x 25Gb PCI-e NICs
- 3x 25Gb QSFP+ DAC (2m)
- 1x 40Gb QSFP+ to 10Gb SFP+ breakout cable
Are these switches picky about cables (SFP28/QSFP+/SFP+) and NICs, or should I be safe picking any of the widely available options on eBay?
From previous comments in this thread, it seems that I can't mix 3x 25G NICs and 1x 10G NIC on the front panel QSFP28 ports, so I'll have to use a breakout cable and one of the 40Gb stacking ports with a breakout cable.
So, I need to pick up
- 3x 25Gb PCI-e NICs
- 3x 25Gb QSFP+ DAC (2m)
- 1x 40Gb QSFP+ to 10Gb SFP+ breakout cable
Are these switches picky about cables (SFP28/QSFP+/SFP+) and NICs, or should I be safe picking any of the widely available options on eBay?
I just recently got this and I used three random SFP28 DACs and one random SFP28 active optical cable, all used from eBay, and they all have worked well. I bought one Amphenol 40G to 4x10G breakout cable and one Cisco 4x10G breakout cable and I found that the first port on each of those cables doesn't seem to work. Perhaps there is a setting I'm missing somewhere. The other six (10G2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) all work fine and are connected @10G and running right now, but 10G1 and 10G5 (so the first cable on each breakout cable) just don't work. They show up as "Detach" instead of "Link Up" or "Link Down" and rather than saying "10G Full" or "Unknown" for the speed they show up as "NA" so there's gotta be something I am missing but I've been stuck with the 4x25G and 6x10G total. That said, if one of your breakout cable ends doesn't work, try another one, it just might.
I have two of the Amazon 10Gtek 40G QSFP+ to 4xSFP+ Breakout DAC for Cisco (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJZ1K3W1) [in 1.5 and 3 meter lengths] and the switch UI shows as "Yes" for the Dell Qualified column...
I have the first 3 10G ports populated on each:
I have the first 3 10G ports populated on each:
Code:
Te1/0/1 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/2 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/3 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/4 Full 10000 Off Down Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/5 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/6 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/7 Full 10000 Off Up Off T (1),2-4093
Te1/0/8 Full 10000 Off Down Off T (1),2-4093So you can connect all 4 to the front sfp28 ports, it’s just that all 4 ports must run at either 10GbE or 25GbE. So you’ll need to configure the ports at 10GbE, that way your 25G cards auto negotiate down and your 10G card can connect as normal.
If you want 25G on your 25GB capable cards though you’ll need to do as you describe. Connect the 25GB cards up front and breakout on of the ports on the back for your one 10GB card.
I’m sure you already know, but just to make sure you order the right thing, the 25G cards will use an SFP+ (10G speeds) or SFP28 cable (25G speeds), not a QSFP+ cable. The breakout cable will be QFSP+ to SFP+ as you describe.
I’ve loved this switch (except for the noise, I need to mod the fans) so I hope you’ll have a good experience with it too!
I’ll also briefly reiterate that all the cables I’ve used on this switch work perfectly, it has however been picky with transceivers. So if you want fiber or 10G base T, you’ll probably need Dell compatible parts.
Since the N2224X-ON seems to have jumped up in price quite a bit and I don't really need 2.5G ports I ended up getting an N3224T-ON and so far it seems like a well put together switch.
It came with OS6 installed on it, but it seemed to be wiped out when I updated the ONIE install; at least it stopped showing up in the boot menu after that. The newest version that I could find on Dell's site was 6.7.1.22, so I've got that installed now. It looks like there's version 6.8.1.4 for the N2200 series that's available and the release notes mention the N3224T. I haven't tried to install that image to see if it'll just work or if they have a separate one for some reason.
I am confused about the licensing though. I installed the `license' program in ONIE Rescue and ran it, but it seems to just be getting junk, which I'm assuming means that there is no license:
Version 1.0
NOS type : 0x37, 0x37
MAC addr : 37:37:37:37:37:37
SVC tag : 7777777
magic byte : 0x37
OS6 itself doesn't seem to care though; I'm not getting any messages saying that I don't have a license. It seems a little strange to me that there doesn't seem to be any way _from_ OS6 to find out your licensing status? Does that mean that it really doesn't matter in the end?
Actually that brings me to another question. Are there different regions for service tags? The Dell service lookup is claiming that my service tag doesn't exist. Did I end up with a switch that happened to `fall of a truck' from somewhere?
It came with OS6 installed on it, but it seemed to be wiped out when I updated the ONIE install; at least it stopped showing up in the boot menu after that. The newest version that I could find on Dell's site was 6.7.1.22, so I've got that installed now. It looks like there's version 6.8.1.4 for the N2200 series that's available and the release notes mention the N3224T. I haven't tried to install that image to see if it'll just work or if they have a separate one for some reason.
I am confused about the licensing though. I installed the `license' program in ONIE Rescue and ran it, but it seems to just be getting junk, which I'm assuming means that there is no license:
Version 1.0
NOS type : 0x37, 0x37
MAC addr : 37:37:37:37:37:37
SVC tag : 7777777
magic byte : 0x37
OS6 itself doesn't seem to care though; I'm not getting any messages saying that I don't have a license. It seems a little strange to me that there doesn't seem to be any way _from_ OS6 to find out your licensing status? Does that mean that it really doesn't matter in the end?
Actually that brings me to another question. Are there different regions for service tags? The Dell service lookup is claiming that my service tag doesn't exist. Did I end up with a switch that happened to `fall of a truck' from somewhere?
These devices mostly come from Dell factory inventory in Xiamen, China. They were never actually sold but were kept in stock as spare parts.
As is well known, Dell is withdrawing its manufacturing operations from China, so large quantities of Dell spare parts are being liquidated periodically, and these switches are among them.
That makes sense! That could explain why the N2224X-ON has gotten more expensive; if the cheap spare parts models ran out at some point and we're just back to more regular supply.
While the newest version of OS6 that was showing up for the N3224T-ON was 6.7.1.22 from the search, 6.8.1.11 (released yesterday!) is showing up from the support page:
Definitely nice to be using something recent rather than an OS from a few years ago!
At this point what I really want is a command to adjust the fan settings. It's quiet but at the RPM it's running the fans there's a high pitched noise that my daughter can hear from across the basement! I swapped the three fans out with Arctic S4028-6K's, but while they're pretty quiet when running at full blast, they still make the same high pitched noise at low RPM. =( I `fixed' it last night by pulling out one of the fans and letting the switch just run the other two at full speed! It's slightly louder, but the overall noise is MUCH less annoying. I'd mod them to just always run at 100%, but since the two fans are cooling it just fine and OS6 doesn't seem to care much I think that I'll just leave it like this for now. =)
i was about to buy one but i wonder if i really could benefit from it.
I have some 10/100/1000/2500 devices to plug. No problem here except i have 2-3 which need poe (poe version is out my budget in europe).
Not a big deal i can add poe injector.
For the other links i need advice.
i have :
- a server with 2xSFP+ (for now connected with 10G optical tranceivers)
- a fiber for an uplink to 1st floor (for now connected with sfp+ tranceiver 1G bidi SM)
- a fiber for an uplink to 3rd floor (for now connected with sfp+ tranceiver 10G bidi SM)
- a router connected with 1 2,5Gbe port and a lacp of 2x2,5 Gbe ports
I add a server with 1 10GBe port and 2xSFP28 ports
if i use the front SFP28 ports of the switch for my new server, i'm left with the qsfp+ for the other links.
But correct me i'm wrong but i have not seen any breakout from qsfp+ to sfp+ in which i could insert tranceiver. Those are only dac cables.
So the best i could do would be to use SFP28 ports for my tranceivers (optics and RJ45) and breakout dac cable for the 4 SFP+/SFP28 of my servers. This leave me with the 1G uplink i could upgrade to 10 with new switch and tranceivers or use a spare mc220 converter i have.
Do you have any comments on that ?
Also do you know the monitoring configuration possibilities ?
I'd like to mirror the 3 router ports to 10G port connected to my new server (so the 10Gbe port or one of the SFP28). Is it possible ?
Are the ports obtained through the breakout configurable like other ports of the switch ?
And last does upgrading the switch require a professionnal account ? I tried to download the firmware but i can only get release notes.
I have some 10/100/1000/2500 devices to plug. No problem here except i have 2-3 which need poe (poe version is out my budget in europe).
Not a big deal i can add poe injector.
For the other links i need advice.
i have :
- a server with 2xSFP+ (for now connected with 10G optical tranceivers)
- a fiber for an uplink to 1st floor (for now connected with sfp+ tranceiver 1G bidi SM)
- a fiber for an uplink to 3rd floor (for now connected with sfp+ tranceiver 10G bidi SM)
- a router connected with 1 2,5Gbe port and a lacp of 2x2,5 Gbe ports
I add a server with 1 10GBe port and 2xSFP28 ports
if i use the front SFP28 ports of the switch for my new server, i'm left with the qsfp+ for the other links.
But correct me i'm wrong but i have not seen any breakout from qsfp+ to sfp+ in which i could insert tranceiver. Those are only dac cables.
So the best i could do would be to use SFP28 ports for my tranceivers (optics and RJ45) and breakout dac cable for the 4 SFP+/SFP28 of my servers. This leave me with the 1G uplink i could upgrade to 10 with new switch and tranceivers or use a spare mc220 converter i have.
Do you have any comments on that ?
Also do you know the monitoring configuration possibilities ?
I'd like to mirror the 3 router ports to 10G port connected to my new server (so the 10Gbe port or one of the SFP28). Is it possible ?
Are the ports obtained through the breakout configurable like other ports of the switch ?
And last does upgrading the switch require a professionnal account ? I tried to download the firmware but i can only get release notes.
i have seen that but only one sfp module.
i searched but didn't find. I have to plug 2 fibers which single LC connector each (RX/TX on the same fiber).
You want something like this https://www.fs.com/products/68048.html?now_cid=1140 and MPO and LC transceivers.
I could download the firmware. You clicked on the wrong link. Click on either the text like "Dell Networking ... Series, Firmware Version..." or the down arrow instead of "Download." That will expand the item. Click "View full driver details" then you can download the documentation or the image.
Not sure about your mirroring question. Get the manual and go through it.
I could download the firmware. You clicked on the wrong link. Click on either the text like "Dell Networking ... Series, Firmware Version..." or the down arrow instead of "Download." That will expand the item. Click "View full driver details" then you can download the documentation or the image.
Not sure about your mirroring question. Get the manual and go through it.
These harness don't match my use case. I have a bidi transceiver at the other end of the fiber. The fiber to plug has only 1 simplex LC connector.
edit: i have to plug a bidi transceiver in the switch. The only possibility is in the SFP28 ports and not sure if they will accept my transceiver.
What i would need would be a qsa module but with 4 sfp+ instead of one. I don't think it exists.
Thanks for the tip for the download. It's well hidden.
For the mirror i found a partial answer in the cli reference guide but not sure to understand what it means:
In my case i want to mirror :
- 1 port on the Lan network . On this port traffic would be untagged
- 2 ports in lacp which are a trunk of all the vlans. On this port traffic is tagged.
edit: i have to plug a bidi transceiver in the switch. The only possibility is in the SFP28 ports and not sure if they will accept my transceiver.
What i would need would be a qsa module but with 4 sfp+ instead of one. I don't think it exists.
Thanks for the tip for the download. It's well hidden.
For the mirror i found a partial answer in the cli reference guide but not sure to understand what it means:
Code:
The port mirroring logic stage occurs after the after the VLAN tag processing
stage on ingress and before the VLAN tag processing stage on egress. When
mirroring packets associated with DVLAN/QinQ SP or CE ports, the outer
VLAN tag may or may not appear in the frame. Due to the internal processing
of QinQ tagging, the TPID of ingress frames mirrored from the SP port will
always be 0x8100. In addition, packets forwarded internally across a stacking
link may have different tags applied than packets forwarded on a local egress
port. This is due to the processing required for forwarding across a stack.- 1 port on the Lan network . On this port traffic would be untagged
- 2 ports in lacp which are a trunk of all the vlans. On this port traffic is tagged.
Last edited:
I sent a message to a seller on ebay asking if the switch comes with an os6 licence as it seems to be the firmware corresponding to that switch.
His answer confuses me. He tells that he could install os6 but os10 should be better.
I know nothing about dell switches; does his too ?
His answer confuses me. He tells that he could install os6 but os10 should be better.
I know nothing about dell switches; does his too ?
that doesn't match my case. or at least i would need to convert duplex-lc to simplex lc with media converter like this:
that would cost almost the price of the switch.
You wedged yourself into a corner by pulling just one strand of fiber. Best practice is to pull at least a spare--if you did you would be able to use the more common duplex LC breakouts. Using simplex LC/SC limits your options in the future. If I were you I'd think about pulling 3 more strands to the first and third floors. You can use each pair and be compatible with 40G and beyond using pretty affordable optics.
Using a QSA to for each simplex connection just wastes the other three interfaces. It's not a problem if your switch has 12 or 32 QSFP ports, but is for one with only two.
Using a QSA to for each simplex connection just wastes the other three interfaces. It's not a problem if your switch has 12 or 32 QSFP ports, but is for one with only two.