Set up NIC bonding
Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10 provides network interface controller (NIC) bonding support. To enable and use this functionality on your appliance:
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Confirm that you have one of these Catalyst Center appliances:
Table 1. Catalyst Center appliances that support NIC bonding Machine profile
Machine profile alias
Cisco part number Number of cores medium
medium
Second-generation:
-
DN2-HW-APL
-
DN2-HW-APL-U (promotional)
44
Third-generation:
-
DN3-HW-APL
-
DN3-HW-APL-U (promotional)
32
t2_large
large
Second-generation:
-
DN2-HW-APL-L
-
DN2-HW-APL-L-U (promotional)
56
Third-generation:
-
DN3-HW-APL-L
-
DN3-HW-APL-L-U (promotional)
t2_2xlarge
extra large
Second-generation:
-
DN2-HW-APL-XL
-
DN2-HW-APL-XL-U (promotional)
112
Third-generation:
-
DN3-HW-APL-XL
-
DN3-HW-APL-XL-U (promotional)
80
-
-
Complete these tasks on the switch that you will connect to your appliance:
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Ensure that it supports dynamic interface aggregation.
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Enable Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the switch, then specify these settings:
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LACP mode: active: This places the switch port connected to your appliance into an active negotiating state, in which the port initiates negotiations with remote ports by sending LACP packets.
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LACP rate: fast: This changes the rate at which the LACP control packets are sent to an LACP-supported interface. Instead of the default every 30 seconds, control packets are sent once every second.
-
-
-
Complete the procedure for your appliance:
Enable NIC bonding on a medium or large appliance
If you are upgrading a medium or large appliance to Catalyst Center 2.3.7.10, you have two NIC bonding options:
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If you have decided to enable NIC bonding on your appliance, complete the steps described in Enable NIC bonding now. This option reduces downtime.
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If you are undecided about enabling NIC bonding, complete Step 1 in Enable NIC bonding later. To enable NIC bonding at some point in the future, complete the rest of this procedure starting with Step 2.
Enable NIC bonding now
Procedure
Step 1 |
Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide that's specific to your appliance, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic. |
Step 2 |
Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic. |
Step 3 |
Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.10. |
Step 4 |
Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic. Note these points:
|
Enable NIC bonding later
Procedure
Step 1 |
Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.10. |
Step 2 |
Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic. |
Step 3 |
Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic. |
Step 4 |
Complete the steps that are described in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide's "Power-cycle the appliance" topic. |
Step 5 |
Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic. Note these points:
|
Enable NIC bonding on an extra large appliance
Procedure
Step 1 |
Upgrade your Catalyst Center release to 2.3.7.10. |
Step 2 |
Upgrade to the Cisco IMC firmware version for your Catalyst Center release. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Update the Cisco IMC firmware" topic. |
Step 3 |
Enable the NIC on which the secondary instance of your appliance's interfaces will reside. For second-generation appliances, this is the Intel X710-DA4 NIC. For third-generation appliances, this is the Intel E810XXVDA4. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Enable NIC on an upgraded appliance" topic. |
Step 4 |
Complete the steps that are described in the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide's "Power-cycle the appliance" topic. |
Step 5 |
Enable the interfaces that reside on your appliance's secondary NIC for configuration and use. In the Cisco Catalyst Center Appliance Installation Guide, see the "Reconfigure the appliance using the configuration wizard" topic. Note these points:
|