Configuring FCoE VLANs and Virtual Fibre Channel Interfaces

Information About Virtual Fibre Channel (VFC) Interfaces

Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) allows Fibre Channel and Ethernet traffic to be carried on the same physical Ethernet connection between the switch and the servers.

The Fibre Channel portion of FCoE is configured as a virtual Fibre Channel interface. Logical Fibre Channel features (such as interface mode) can be configured on virtual Fibre Channel interfaces.

A virtual Fibre Channel (vfc) interface must be bound to an interface before it can be used. The binding is to a physical Ethernet interface when the converged network adapter (CNA) is directly connected to the switch or port channel when the CNA connects to the Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF) over a virtual port channel (vPC).

VF Port

A virtual fabric (VF) port in an FCoE network acts as a fabric port that connects to a peripheral device (host or disk) operating as an N port. A VF port can be attached to only one N port.

VE Port

A virtual expansion (VE) port acts as an expansion port in an FCoE network. VE ports can connect multiple FCoE switches together in the network. You can bind a VE port to a physical ethernet port or a port channel.

Traffic is load balanced across equal cost E_Ports and VE_Ports based on SID, DID, and OXID. Traffic across members of a port channel that a VE_Port is bound to is load balanced based on SID, DID, and OXID.

VNP Ports

Connectivity from an FCoE NPV bridge to the FCF is supported only over point-to-point links. These links can be individual Ethernet interfaces or port channel interfaces. For each FCF connected to an Ethernet/port-channel interface, a vFC interface must be created and bound to it. These vFC interfaces must be configured as VNP ports.

On the VNP port, the FCoE NPV bridge emulates an FCoE-capable host with multiple FCoE nodes (ENodes), each with a unique ENodes MAC address. By default, the VNP port is enabled in trunk mode.

Multiple VSANs can be configured on the VNP port. The FCoE VLANs that correspond to the VNP port VSANs must be configured on the bound Ethernet interface.

Default Settings for FCoE

This table lists the default settings for FCoE parameters.

Table 1. Default FCoE Parameter Settings

Parameters

Default

FCoE feature

Not installed, disabled

FC-Map

0E.FC.00

Fabric priority

128

Advertisement interval

8 seconds

Guidelines and Limitations

Configuring Virtual Interfaces

Mapping a VSAN to a VLAN

A unique, dedicated VLAN must be configured at every converged access switch to carry traffic for each virtual fabric (VSAN) in the SAN (for example, VLAN 1002 for VSAN 10, VLAN 1003 for VSAN 2, and so on). If you enable MST, you must use a separate Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) instance for FCoE VLANs.

Before you begin

  • Ensure you have installed the correct license for FCoE.

  • Ensure you have enabled FCoE.

Procedure

Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)#

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

vsan database

Example:

switch(config)# vsan database
switch(config-vsan-db)#

Enters VSAN database configuration mode.

Step 3

vsan vsan-id

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# vsan 200

Defines the VSAN. The VSAN number range is from 1 to 4094.

Step 4

vlan vlan-id

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# vlan 200
switch(config-vlan)#

Enters VLAN configuration mode. The VLAN number range is from 1 to 4096.

Step 5

fcoe [vsan vsan-id]

Example:

switch(config-vlan)# fcoe vsan 200

Enables FCoE for the specified VLAN and configures the mapping from this VLAN to the specified VSAN. If you do not specify a VSAN number, a mapping is created from this VLAN to the VSAN with the same number.

Step 6

exit

Example:

switch(config-vlan)# exit
switch(config)#

Step 7

(Optional) show vlan fcoe

Example:

switch(config-vlan)# show vlan fcoe

Displays information about the FCoE configuration for a VLAN.

Step 8

(Optional) copy running-config startup-config

Example:

switch(config-vlan)# copy running-config startup-config

Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

Example

Creating a Virtual Fibre Channel Interface

To use FCoE, you must first create Virtual Fibre Channel (VFC) interfaces. Then, you must bind the VFC interfaces to physical interfaces before FCoE can be used.

Before you begin

  • Ensure you have installed the correct license for FCoE.

  • Ensure you have enabled FCoE.

Procedure

Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)#

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

interface vfc vfc-id

Example:

switch(config)# interface vfc 4
switch(config-if)#

Creates a virtual Fibre Channel interface (if it does not already exist) and enters interface configuration mode. The vfc-id range is from 1 to 8192.

Step 3

switchport mode mode

Example:

switch(configif)# switchport mode e

Configures the switchport mode for a virtual Fibre Channel interface. The mode is E or F. The default is F mode.

Step 4

bind {interface {ethernet slot/port | ethernet-port-channel number}}

Example:

switch(config-if)# bind interface ethernet 1/4

Binds the virtual Fibre Channel interface to the specified interface. Use ? to see the supported interfaces and port channels. Use the no form of this command to unbind the virtual Fibre Channel interface from the specified interface.

Step 5

(Optional) show interface vfc

Example:

switch(config-if)# show interface vfc

Displays information about the virtual Fibre Channel interfaces.

Step 6

(Optional) copy running-config startup-config

Example:

switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config

Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

Example

This example shows how to bind a virtual Fibre Channel interface to an Ethernet interface: 

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# interface vfc 4
switch(config-if)# bind interface ethernet 1/4

This example shows how to delete a virtual Fibre Channel interface: 

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# no interface vfc 4

Creating a Virtual Fibre Channel Port Channel Interface

You can create a virtual Fibre Channel port channel interface that automatically binds to the port channel with the same interface number.

Procedure

Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)#

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

interface vfc-port-channel int-number

Example:

switch(config)# interface vfc-port-channel 2
switch(config-if)#

Creates a virtual Fibre Channel interface (if it does not already exist) that is bound to the port channel with the same interface number and enters interface configuration mode.

The default switchport mode for this interface is E.

Step 3

switchport mode mode

Example:

switch(config-if)# switchport mode e

Configures the switchport mode for a virtual Fibre Channel interface. The mode is E or F. The default is F mode.

Step 4

(Optional) show interface vfc-port-channel int-number

Example:

switch(config-if)# show interface vfc-port-channel 2

Displays information about the virtual Fibre Channel interfaces bound to port channel interfaces.

Step 5

(Optional) copy running-config startup-config

Example:

switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config
[########################################] 100%
Copy complete.

Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

Step 6

(Optional) show running-config interface vfcid/slot

Example:

awitch# show running-config interface vfc-po540
!Command: show running-config interface vfc-po540
!Time: Fri Dec 2 15:36:07 2016

version 7.3(0)D1(1)

interface vfc-po540
bind interface ethernet-port-channel540
switchport mode E
no shutdown

Displays the virtual Fibre Channel interface configuration information.

Associating a Virtual Fibre Channel Interface to a VSAN

You must configure unique, dedicated VLAN at every converged access switch to carry traffic for each Virtual Fabric (VSAN) in the SAN (for example, VLAN 1002 for VSAN 1, VLAN 1003 for VSAN 2, and so on). If you enable MST, you must use a separate MST instance for FCoE VLANs.

Procedure

Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)#

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

vsan database

Example:

switch(config)# vsan database
switch(config-vsan-db)#

Enters VSAN configuration mode.

Step 3

(Optional) vsan vsan-id

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# vsan 2

Creates the VSAN. The vsan-id range is from 1 to 4094 and must map to a VLAN on the physical Ethernet interface that is bound to the virtual Fibre Channel interface.

Step 4

Enter one of the following commands:

  • vsan vsan-id interface vfc vfc-id
  • vsan vsan-id interface vfc-port-channel vfc-id

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# vsan 2 interface vfc 4

Configures the association between the VSAN and virtual Fibre Channel interface or virtual Fibre Channel port channel. The vsan-id range is from 1 to 4094 and must map to a VLAN on the physical Ethernet interface or port channel that is bound to the virtual Fibre Channel interface or virtual Fibre Channel port channel. The vfc-id range is from 1 to 8192. Us the no form of this command to dissassociate the connection between the VSAN and virtual Fibre Channel interface or virtual Fibre Channel port channel.

Step 5

(Optional) show vsan

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# show vsan

Displays information about the VSAN.

Step 6

(Optional) copy running-config startup-config

Example:

switch(config-vsan-db)# copy running-config startup-config

Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration.

Example

This example shows how to associate a virtual Fibre Channel interface to a VSAN: 

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# vsan database
switch(config-vsan-db)# vsan 2 interface vfc 4

Enabling VE Loopback Configuration

The VFID check verifies that the VSAN configuration is correct on both ends of a VE link. You can turn off the VFID check for VE ports to allow VE loopback configuration between to VE ports on the same switch.

Procedure

Step 1

configure terminal

Example:

fcoe# configure terminal
fcoe(config)#

Enters configuration mode.

Step 2

fcoe veloopback

Example:

fcoe(config)# fcoe veloopback

Enables the VFID check for all VE ports.

Example

Verifying the Virtual Fibre Channel Interface

To display configuration information about virtual Fibre Channel interfaces, perform one of the following tasks:

Command

Purpose

show interface vfc vfc-id

Displays the detailed configuration of the specified Fibre Channel interface.

show interface brief

Displays the status of all interfaces.

show vlan fcoe

Displays the mapping of FCoE VLANs to VSANs.

This example shows how to display a virtual Fibre Channel interface bound to an Ethernet interface: 

switch# show interface vfc 3
vfc3 is up
    Bound interface is Ethernet1/37
    Hardware is Virtual Fibre Channel
    Port WWN is 20:02:00:0d:ec:6d:95:3f
    Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is on
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port mode is F, FCID is 0x490100
    Port vsan is 931
    1 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
    1 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
      0 frames input, 0 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
      0 frames output, 0 bytes
        0 discards, 0 errors
    Interface last changed at Thu May 21 04:44:42 2009

This example shows how to display the status of all the interfaces on the switch (some output has been removed for brevity): 

switch# show interface brief
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface  Vsan   Admin  Admin   Status          SFP    Oper  Oper   Port
                  Mode   Trunk                          Mode  Speed  Channel
                         Mode                                 (Gbps)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
fc3/1      1      auto   on      trunking         swl    TE      2    --
fc3/2      1      auto   on      sfpAbsent        --     --           --
...
fc3/8      1      auto   on      sfpAbsent        --     --           --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface                Status     IP Address        Speed    MTU   Port
                                                                     Channel
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethernet1/1              hwFailure  --                --       1500  --
Ethernet1/2              hwFailure  --                --       1500  --
Ethernet1/3              up         --                10000    1500  --
...
Ethernet1/39             sfpIsAbsen --                --       1500  --
Ethernet1/40             sfpIsAbsen --                --       1500  --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface                Status     IP Address        Speed    MTU
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mgmt0                    up         172.16.24.41      100      1500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface  Vsan   Admin  Admin   Status          SFP    Oper  Oper   Port
                  Mode   Trunk                          Mode  Speed  Channel
                         Mode                                 (Gbps)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vfc 1        1      F      --      down             --     --           --
...

This example shows how to display the mapping between the VLANs and VSANs on the switch: 

switch# show vlan fcoe
VLAN      VSAN      Status
--------  --------  --------
15        15        Operational
20        20        Operational
25        25        Operational
30        30        Non-operational

Example:Mapping VSANs to VLANs

The following example shows how to configure the FCoE VLAN and a virtual Fibre Channel interface:

Procedure

Step 1

Enable the associated VLAN and map the VLAN to a VSAN. 

switch(config)# vlan 200
switch(config-vlan)# fcoe vsan 200
switch(config-vlan)# exit

Step 2

Configure the VLAN on a physical Ethernet interface. 

switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# interface ethernet 1/4
switch(config-if)# spanning-tree port type edge trunk
switch(config-if)# switchport mode trunk
switch(config-if)# switchport trunk allowed vlan 1,200
switch(config-if)# exit

Step 3

Create a virtual Fibre Channel interface and bind it to a physical Ethernet interface. 

switch(config)# interface vfc 4
switch(config-if)# bind interface ethernet 1/4

Note

 

By default, all virtual Fibre Channel interfaces reside on VSAN 1. If the VLAN to VSAN mapping is to a VSAN other than VSAN 1, then proceed to Step 4.

Step 4

Associate the virtual Fibre Channel interface to the VSAN. 

switch(config)# vsan database
switch(config-vsan)# vsan 200 interface vfc 4
switch(config-vsan)# exit

Step 5

(Optional) Display membership information for the VSAN. 

switch# show vsan 200 membership
vsan 200 interfaces
           vfc 4

Step 6

(Optional) Display the interface information for the virtual Fibre Channel interface. 

switch# show interface vfc 4

vfc4 is up
Bound interface is Ethernet1/4
Hardware is Virtual Fibre Channel
Port WWN is 20:02:00:0d:ec:6d:95:3f 
Port WWN is 20:02:00:0d:ec:6d:95:3f 
snmp link state traps are enabled
Port WWN is 20:02:00:0d:ec:6d:95:3f 
APort WWN is 20:02:00:0d:ec:6d:95:3f
snmp link state traps are enabled
Port mode is F, FCID is 0x490100
Port vsan is 200
1 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec 
1 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 bytes/sec, 0 frames/sec
0 frames input, 0 bytes 0 discards, 0 errors 
0 frames output, 0 bytes 0 discards, 0 errors
Interface last changed at Thu Mar 11 04:44:42 2010

Verifying the FCoE Configuration

To display FCoE configuration information, perform one of these tasks in the context of storage VDC:

Command

Purpose

show fcoe

Displays whether FCoE is enabled on the switch.

show fcoe database

Displays the contents of the FCoE database.

Note

 

This command is effective when interfaces are configured.

show interface vfc [number]

Displays information about the vFC interfaces.

show interface [interface number] fcoe

Displays the FCoE settings for an interface or all interfaces.

This example shows how to verify that the FCoE capability is enabled: 

switch# show fcoe
Global FCF details
        FCF-MAC is 00:0d:ec:6d:95:00
        FC-MAP is 0e:fc:00
        FCF Priority is 128
        FKA Advertisement period for FCF is 8 seconds

This example shows how to display the FCoE database: 

switch# show fcoe database
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERFACE       FCID            PORT NAME               MAC ADDRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
vfc3            0x490100        21:00:00:1b:32:0a:e7:b8 00:c0:dd:0e:5f:76

This example shows how to display the FCoE settings for an interface. 

switch# show interface ethernet 1/37 fcoe
Ethernet1/37 is FCoE UP
    vfc3 is Up
        FCID is 0x490100
       PWWN is 21:00:00:1b:32:0a:e7:b8
       MAC addr is 00:c0:dd:0e:5f:76

Additional References for FCoE

Related Documents

Related Topic Document Title

Command reference

Cisco NX-OS FCoE Command Reference Guide, Nexus 7000 and MDS 9500

Configuration guide

Cisco NX-OS licensing

Standards and RFCs

Standard/RFC Title
T11 FC BB-5 Fibre Channel Backbone 5

MIBs

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http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs

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