The last Days I want to create a Port Channel between my UCS Chassis and my MDS Switch. See how to configure and get some hints.

Remember, during this configuration you loose one FC-Uplink! So check if your Blades see the Paths over both Fabrics!

On my first try I didn’t get it up. This had to do with the old Firmware of my MDS Switches. So we had to Upgrade to 6.X Release. (https://supportforums.cisco.com/discussion/11896686/create-port-channel-between-ucs-fi-and-mds-9124-f-mode)

At the second starting point I go with the following Versions:

• Cisco UCS 2.2.(7c)
• Cisco MDS 6.2(19)

Before we create the Channel we have to check:

• Cisco MDS
  • Feature npiv (enabled)
  • Feature fport-channel-trunk (enabled)
  • Put both ports fot the Channel in the same VSAN

Check Feature:

san-1b# show feature
Feature Name          Instance  State
--------------------  --------  --------
dpvm                  1         disabled
evmed                 1         disabled
fabric-binding        1         disabled
fcsp                  1         disabled
fport-channel-trunk   1         enabled
http-server           1         enabled
ioa                   1         disabled
isapi                 1         disabled
ivr                   1         disabled
ldap                  1         disabled
npiv                  1         enabled
npv                   1         disabled
onep                  1         disabled
poap                  1         disabled
port-security         1         disabled
port_track            1         disabled
privilege             1         disabled
qos-manager           1         disabled
scheduler             1         disabled
scpServer             1         disabled
sdv                   1         disabled
sfm                   1         disabled
sftpServer            1         disabled
sshServer             1         enabled
tacacs                1         disabled
telnetServer          1         disabled
tpc                   1         disabled
san-1b#

Enable Feature:

san-1b# conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.
san-1b#(config)# feature fport-channel-trunk
Admin trunk mode has been set to off for
1- Interfaces with admin switchport mode F,FL,FX,SD,ST in admin down state
2- Interfaces with operational switchport mode F,FL,SD,ST.

At the next Step we configure the PortChannel in the UCS GUI:

Go to “SAN” Tab, “Create Port Channel”, Add ID and a Name, Add Ports, Finish.

After creating, Disable Port Channel and choose VSAN if you do not use the default VSAN1.

I use the UCS Ports 25+27 in VSAN 3370

So now let’s configure the MDS Switch:

I use the MDS Ports 10+24 in VSAN 3370

san-1b# conf t
san-1b(config)# 
san-1b(config)# interface fc1/10
san-1b(config-if)# shutdown
san-1b(config-if)# switchport mode F
san-1b(config-if)# channel-group 31
fc1/10 added to port-channel 31 and disabled
please do the same operation on the switch at the other end of the port-channel,
then do "no shutdown" at both ends to bring it up
san-1b(config-if)# 
san-1b(config-if)# interface fc1/24
san-1b(config-if)# shutdown
san-1b(config-if)# switchport mode F
san-1b(config-if)# channel-group 31
fc1/24 added to port-channel 31 and disabled
please do the same operation on the switch at the other end of the port-channel,
then do "no shutdown" at both ends to bring it up
san-1b(config-if)# 
san-1b(config-if)# interface port-channel 31
san-1b(config-if)# shutdown
san-1b(config-if)# switchport mode F
san-1b(config-if)# channel mode active

Now enable the Port Channel in UCS GUI and go back to MDS.

san-1b(config-if)# no shutdown
san-1b(config-if)# show interface port-channel 31

port-channel31 is up
    Hardware is Fibre Channel 
    Port WWN is 24:1f:00:05:73:b1:3c:68
    Admin port mode is F, trunk mode is on
    snmp link state traps are enabled
    Port mode is F
    Port vsan is 3370
    Speed is 16 Gbps
    admin fec state is down
    oper fec state is down
    5 minutes input rate 224960624 bits/sec,28120078 bytes/sec, 16141 frames/sec
    5 minutes output rate 145118008 bits/sec,18139751 bytes/sec, 13232 frames/sec
      98643 frames input,152616864 bytes
        0 discards,0 errors
        0 invalid CRC/FCS,0 unknown class 
        0 too long,0 too short
      118603 frames output,166967868 bytes
        0 discards,0 errors
      0 input OLS,0  LRR,0 NOS,0 loop inits
      0 output OLS,0 LRR, 0 NOS, 0 loop inits
    Member[1] : fc1/10
    Member[2] : fc1/24
    Interface last changed at XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

san-1b(config-if)# wr
Copy complete.
san-1b(config-if)#

If the Channel does not come up, check if your Ports are up! Maybe you have to do a “no shutdown” on the interface.

(config-if)# show interface brief 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface  Vsan   Admin  Admin   Status       SFP    Oper  Oper   Port
                  Mode   Trunk                       Mode  Speed  Channel
                         Mode                              (Gbps)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
fc1/1      1000   auto   on      trunking     swl   TE     8      1        
fc1/2      1000   auto   on      trunking     swl   TE     8      1  
----      
fc1/10     3370   F      on      up           swl   F      8      31 
----
fc1/24     3370   F      on      up           swl   F      8      31       

Back to GUI. You should see that the Channel is up.

Enjoy and share 😉 !