The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.
You can use Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+), Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (SFP+), SFP transceivers, or RJ-45 connectors to connect the ports on the I/O modules to other network devices.
To prevent damage to the fiber-optic cables that can separate from their cables, we recommend that you keep the transceivers disconnected from their fiber-optic cables when installing the transceiver in the I/O module. Before removing such a transceiver from the switch, remove the cable from the transceiver.
To maximize the effectiveness and life of your transceivers and optical cables, do the following:
Wear an ESD-preventative wrist strap that is connected to an earth ground whenever handling transceivers. The switch is typically grounded during installation and provides an ESD port to which you can connect your wrist strap.
Do not remove and insert a transceiver more often than is necessary. Repeated removals and insertions can shorten its useful life.
Keep the transceivers and fiber-optic cables clean and dust free to maintain high signal accuracy and to prevent damage to the connectors. Attenuation (loss of light) is increased by contamination and should be kept below 0.35 dB.
Clean these parts before installation to prevent dust from scratching the fiber-optic cable ends.
Clean the connectors regularly; the required frequency of cleaning depends upon the environment. In addition, clean connectors if they are exposed to dust or accidentally touched. Both wet and dry cleaning techniques can be effective; refer to your site's fiber-optic connection cleaning procedures.
Do not touch the ends of connectors. Touching the ends can leave fingerprints and cause other contamination.
Inspect routinely for dust and damage. If you suspect damage, clean and then inspect fiber ends under a microscope to determine if damage has occurred.
Warning | Statement 1051—Laser Radiation Invisible laser radiation may be emitted from disconnected fibers or connectors. Do not stare into beams or view directly with optical instruments. |
Before you create a network management connection for the switch or connect the switch to the network, you must create a local management connection through a console terminal and configure an IP address for the switch. You also can use the console to perform the following functions, each of which can be performed through the management interface after you make that connection:
Configure the switch using the command-line interface (CLI).
Monitor network statistics and errors.
Configure Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent parameters.
Download software updates.
You make this local management connection between the asynchronous serial port on a supervisor module and a console device capable of asynchronous transmission. Typically, you can use a computer terminal as the console device. On the supervisor modules, you use the console serial port.
Note | Before you can connect the console port to a computer terminal, make sure that the computer terminal supports VT100 terminal emulation. The terminal emulation software makes communication between the switch and computer possible during setup and configuration. |
You are ready to create the initial switch configuration (see Creating the Initial Switch Configuration).
The supervisor management port (MGMT ETH) provides out-of-band management, which enables you to use the command-line interface (CLI) to manage the switch by its IP address. This port uses a 10/100/1000 Ethernet connection with an RJ-45 interface.
Note | In a dual supervisor switch, you can ensure that the active supervisor module is always connected to the network by connecting the management interface on both supervisor modules to the network (that is, you can perform this task for each supervisor module). No matter which supervisor module is active, the switch automatically has a management interface that is running and accessible from the network. |
Caution | To prevent an IP address conflict, do not connect the MGMT 10/100/1000 Ethernet port until the initial configuration is complete. For more information, see Creating the Initial Switch Configuration. |
You must have completed the initial switch configuration (see Creating the Initial Switch Configuration).
You are ready to connect the interface ports on each of the I/O modules to the network.
You must assign an IP address to the switch management interface so that you can then connect the switch to the network.
When you initially power up the switch, it boots up and asks you a series of questions to configure the switch. To enable you to connect the switch to the network, you can use the default choices for each configuration except the IP address, which you must provide. You can perform the other configurations at a later time as described in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Fundamentals Configuration Guide.
Note | You should also know the unique name needed to identify the switch among the devices in the network. |
You can now set up the management interface for each supervisor module on the switch.
You can connect BASE-T (copper) and optical interface ports on I/O modules with other devices for network connectivity.
You can connect an I/O-module BASE-T (copper) port to another device on the network using a copper network interface cable with RJ-45 connectors on either end.
You must follow the ESD-preventative protocol, such as wearing a grounded ESD wrist strap, whenever handling electronic components.
You must have BASE-T ports available for connection on a 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet I/O module installed on the switch.
You must have BASE-T ports available on another networked device, which can be another switch.
Step 1 | Route the copper interface cable from the other networking device to the switch. At the switch, route the cable through the cable management slot next to the 48-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet I/O module that you are connecting. |
Step 2 | Insert the RJ-45
connector for the new interface cable into the appropriate port on the I/O
module.
Check the port LED to be sure that it turns on and turns green. |
You can disconnect a BASE-T (copper) port from the network by removing a copper network interface cable with RJ-45 connectors from the I/O module interface port.
You must follow ESD-preventative protocol, such as wearing a grounded ESD wrist strap, whenever handling electronic components.
Depending on the I/O module model that you are using, you can use SFP, SFP+, or QSFP+ transceivers. Some of these transceivers work with fiber-optic cables that you attach to the transceivers and other transceivers work with preattached copper cables. When installing fiber-optic cables for a port, you must install SFP transceivers for 1-Gigabit optical ports or install SFP+ transceivers for 10-Gigabit optical ports or QSFP+ transceivers for 40-Gigabit ports before installing the fiber-optic cable in the transceivers.
Caution | Removing and installing a transceiver can shorten its useful life. Do not remove and insert transceivers more often than is absolutely necessary. We recommend that you disconnect cables before installing or removing transceivers to prevent damage to the cable or transceiver. |
When removing fiber-optic transceivers, you must remove the fiber-optic cables from a transceiver before removing the transceiver from the port.
Transceivers and fiber-optic cables must be kept clean and dust free to maintain high signal accuracy and prevent damage to the connectors. Attenuation (loss of light) is increased by contamination and should be below 0.35 dB.
Consider the following maintenance guidelines:
Transceivers are static sensitive. To prevent ESD damage, wear an ESD-preventative wrist strap that is connected to the grounded chassis.
Do not remove and insert a transceiver more often than is necessary. Repeated removals and insertions can shorten its useful life.
Keep all optical connections covered when not in use. Clean them before using to prevent dust from scratching the fiber-optic cable ends.
Do not touch the ends of connectors. Touching the ends can leave fingerprints and cause other contamination.
Clean the connectors regularly; the required frequency of cleaning depends upon the environment. In addition, clean connectors if they are exposed to dust or accidentally touched. Both wet and dry cleaning techniques can be effective; refer to your site's fiber-optic connection cleaning procedures.
Inspect routinely for dust and damage. If you suspect damage, clean and then inspect fiber ends under a microscope to determine if damage has occurred.