Configuring Layer 2 Interfaces

About Port Profiles

About Port Profiles

You can create a port profile that contains many interface commands and apply that port profile to a range of interfaces on the Cisco Nexus device. Port profiles can be applied to the following interface types:

Ethernet

VLAN network interface

Port channel

A command that is included in a port profile can be configured outside of the port profile. If the new configuration in the port profile conflicts with the configurations that exist outside the port profile, the commands configured for an interface in configuration terminal mode have higher priority than the commands in the port profile. If changes are made to the interface configuration after a port profile is attached to it, and the configuration conflicts with that in the port profile, the configurations in the interface will be given priority.

You inherit the port profile when you attach the port profile to an interface or range of interfaces, When you attach, or inherit, a port profile to an interface or range of interfaces, the switch applies all the commands in that port profile to the interfaces.

You can have one port profile inherit the settings from another port profile. Inheriting another port profile allows the initial port profile to assume all of the commands of the second, inherited, port profile that do not conflict with the initial port profile. Four levels of inheritance are supported. The same port profile can be inherited by any number of port profiles.

To apply the port profile configurations to the interfaces, you must enable the specific port profile. You can configure and inherit a port profile onto a range of interfaces prior to enabling the port profile; you then enable that port profile for the configurations to take effect on the specified interfaces.

When you remove a port profile from a range of interfaces, the switch undoes the configuration from the interfaces first and then removes the port profile link itself. When you remove a port profile, the switch checks the interface configuration and either skips the port profile commands that have been overridden by directly entered interface commands or returns the command to the default value.

If you want to delete a port profile that has been inherited by other port profiles, you must remove the inheritance before you can delete the port profile.

You can choose a subset of interfaces from which to remove a port profile from among that group of interfaces that you originally applied the profile. For example, if you configured a port profile and configured ten interfaces to inherit that port profile, you can remove the port profile from just some of the specified ten interfaces. The port profile continues to operate on the remaining interfaces to which it is applied.

If you delete a specific configuration for a specified range of interfaces using the interface configuration mode, that configuration is also deleted from the port profile for that range of interfaces only. For example, if you have a channel group inside a port profile and you are in the interface configuration mode and you delete that port channel, the specified port channel is also deleted from the port profile as well.

After you inherit a port profile on an interface or range of interfaces and you delete a specific configuration value, that port profile configuration will not operate on the specified interfaces.

If you attempt to apply a port profile to the wrong type of interface, the switch returns an error.

When you attempt to enable, inherit, or modify a port profile, the switch creates a checkpoint. If the port profile configuration fails, the switch rolls back to the prior configuration and returns an error. A port profile is never only partially applied.

 

Cisco Nexus 5000 Series NX-OS Interfaces Configuration Guide, Release 5.2(1)N1(1)

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Cisco Systems N5KC5596TFA manual About Port Profiles

N5KC5596TFA specifications

The Cisco Systems N5KC5596TFA is a high-performance data center switch designed specifically for modern architectures requiring low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity. As part of the Nexus 5000 series, the N5KC5596TFA addresses the needs of virtualized environments, cloud computing, and highly dynamic workloads, making it an essential choice for enterprises and service providers.

One of the standout features of the N5KC5596TFA is its impressive port density. The switch offers 48 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) ports and 4 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GbE) uplinks, providing flexibility to connect a variety of devices and ensuring high throughput across the network. This port configuration is ideal for connecting multiple servers and storage devices, making it perfect for environments with significant data traffic.

The switch supports a range of advanced technologies such as Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) for improving scalability and multi-tenancy in data center networks. VXLAN encapsulates Layer 2 Ethernet frames within Layer 4 UDP packets, allowing for a larger address space and effective overlay networking, which is crucial for cloud deployments.

Another notable aspect of the N5KC5596TFA is its support for Data Center Bridging (DCB), which enhances the reliability and performance of Ethernet networks. DCB features like Priority Flow Control (PFC) and Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) help to minimize data loss and ensure Quality of Service (QoS) for various types of traffic, including storage and regular data, which is critical in a converged infrastructure.

Security is also a priority with the N5KC5596TFA, as it comes equipped with features such as Access Control Lists (ACLs) and port security, helping to safeguard the network from unauthorized access and potential threats.

In terms of management, the switch offers integration with Cisco's Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), providing tools for monitoring, management, and automation, which simplifies operational tasks. Additionally, it supports Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI), enabling a more comprehensive and application-focused approach to networking.

Overall, the Cisco Systems N5KC5596TFA is engineered for organizations looking to build robust, highly efficient, and secure data center environments. Its combination of high density, versatile connectivity options, and advanced networking technologies makes it a powerful solution for meeting the demands of today’s enterprise workloads.