NetApp MetroCluster Brocade 6510 Configuration Notes

It’s fairly straightforward to configure the Brocade 6510s for your MetroCluster. You’ll need to know/obtain:

- Switch Name and IP Address for each switch
- Version of Brocade Firmware to apply*
- NetApp MetroCluster Configuration File RCF version to use
- ISL distances

*Download the firmware from https://my.brocade.com

You’ll need an FTP server to download Firmware and the Golden Template RCF file from. I use Serva64.exe - from https://www.vercot.com/~serva/download.html - on my laptop (it’s just an EXE and nice and simple to use.)

Image: Serva64.exe

The following notes are pretty faithful to the official instructions at:

NetApp MetroCluster Brocade 6510 Configuration Notes


****************
* Basic Config *
****************

switchname SWITCHNAME
ipaddrset
ipaddrshow

**********************************
* Firmware Application (example) *
**********************************

firmwaredownload

## {FTP SERVER IP}
## {FTP USER}
## /v7.4.2/release.plist
## 2-FTP
## {FTP PASS}

version
firmwareshow

****************************
* Switch Pre-Configuration *
****************************

## Disconnect ISL cables!

switchcfgpersistentdisable
cfgDisable
cfgClear
cfgSave
configDefault
portcfgdefault 0
portcfgdefault 1
portcfgdefault 2
portcfgdefault 3
portcfgdefault 4
portcfgdefault 5
portcfgdefault 6
portcfgdefault 7
portcfgdefault 8
portcfgdefault 9
portcfgdefault 10
portcfgdefault 11
portcfgdefault 12
portcfgdefault 13
portcfgdefault 14
portcfgdefault 15
portcfgdefault 16
portcfgdefault 17
portcfgdefault 18
portcfgdefault 19
portcfgdefault 20
portcfgdefault 21
portcfgdefault 22
portcfgdefault 23
portcfgdefault 24
portcfgdefault 25
portcfgdefault 26
portcfgdefault 27
portcfgdefault 28
portcfgdefault 29
portcfgdefault 30
portcfgdefault 31
portcfgdefault 32
portcfgdefault 33
portcfgdefault 34
portcfgdefault 35
portcfgdefault 36
portcfgdefault 37
portcfgdefault 38
portcfgdefault 39
portcfgdefault 40
portcfgdefault 41
portcfgdefault 42
portcfgdefault 43
portcfgdefault 44
portcfgdefault 45
portcfgdefault 46
portcfgdefault 47

licensePort --show
## If not dynamic:
# licenseport --method dynamic

fastboot

***************************************
* Configuration Application (example) *
***************************************

switchShow
ipAddrShow
# ipAddrSet
configDownload

## FTP
## {FTP SERVER IP}
## {FTP USER}
## /B6510_7500N_v91/Brcd6510_8N_FC1_FC2_FAB1_SW1_D5_RCF_v9.1.txt
## all
## y
## {FTP PASS}

switchshow
## Confirm switchDomain has been set correctly

***************************
* Change the ports' speed *
***************************

# portcfgspeed {port} {speed}
## If you have 16G HBA, 16G FCVI, and ATTO 7500N, leave on 16G

*****************************
* Configuring ISL (example) *
*****************************

## Distance (KM) = 1.5 x REAL distance (KM)

## Distance LESS THAN 10 set to LE
# portcfglongdistance 21 LE 1

## Distance MORE THAN 10 set to LS
# portcfglongdistance 21 LS 1 -distance 30

## Repeat for all ISLs.
## NB: A vc_link_init value of 1 uses the ARB fillword (default)

******************************************************
* Disable Brocade Virtual Fabrics (VF) - if not done *
******************************************************

fosconfig options --show
# fosconfig --disable vf

**************************
* Verify IP and Timezone *
**************************

ipAddrShow
ipAddrSet
tstimezone --interactive
reboot

***********************
* Persistently Enable *
***********************

switchcfgpersistentenable

***************************
* Verify Distance Setting *
***************************

portbuffershow
## NB: A distance setting of LE appears as 10km

**************
* Finalizing *
**************

## Reconnect ISL cables!
## NB: When you connect the ISL cables the zoning configuration propagates from the master switch.
## REPEAT for other switches in the MC configuration...

*********************
* Validation Checks *
*********************

switchshow
fabricshow
islshow
trunkshow
cfgshow
zoneshow

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