Configuring Virtual Port Channels

Creating a vPC Peer Link

interface Ethernet1/31 switchport access vlan 123

interface Vlan123

vrf member vpc_keepalive ip address 123.1.1.2/30 no shutdown

vpc domain 1

peer-keepalive destination 123.1.1.1 source 123.1.1.2 vrf

vpc_keepalive

 

 

L3-NEXUS-2#sh vpc peer-keepalive

 

vPC keep-alive status

: peer is alive

--Peer is alive for

:

(154477) seconds, (908) msec

--Send status

:

Success

--Last send at

:

2011.01.14 19:02:50 100 ms

--Sent on interface

:

Vlan123

--Receive status

:

Success

--Last receive at

:

2011.01.14 19:02:50 103 ms

--Received on interface

:

Vlan123

--Last update from peer

:

(0) seconds, (524) msec

vPC Keep-alive parameters

: 123.1.1.1

--Destination

--Keepalive interval

:

1000 msec

--Keepalive timeout

:

5 seconds

--Keepalive hold timeout

:

3 seconds

--Keepalive vrf

:

vpc_keepalive

--Keepalive udp port

:

3200

--Keepalive tos

:

192

The services provided by the switch , such as ping, ssh, telnet, radius, are VRF aware. The VRF name need to be configured or specified in order for the correct routing table to be used.

L3-NEXUS-2# ping 123.1.1.1 vrf vpc_keepalive PING 123.1.1.1 (123.1.1.1): 56 data bytes

64 bytes from 123.1.1.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=254 time=3.234 ms

64 bytes from 123.1.1.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=254 time=4.931 ms

64 bytes from 123.1.1.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=254 time=4.965 ms

64 bytes from 123.1.1.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=254 time=4.971 ms

64 bytes from 123.1.1.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=254 time=4.915 ms

--- 123.1.1.1 ping statistics ---

5 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 0.00% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 3.234/4.603/4.971 ms

Creating a vPC Peer Link

You can create a vPC peer link by designating the EtherChannel that you want on each switch as the peer link for the specified vPC domain. We recommend that you configure the EtherChannels that you are designating as the vPC peer link in trunk mode and that you use two ports on separate modules on each vPC peer switch for redundancy.

Before You Begin

Ensure that you have enabled the vPC feature.

You must configure both switches on either side of the vPC peer link with the following procedures

 

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

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Cisco Systems N5KC5596TFA manual Creating a vPC Peer Link

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.