If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
MDS 9216, capturing FC frames
Hello all!
Recently I am testing SAN network: two MDS 9216 (system 1.3(6)) and two storages IBM FaST 900 (firmware 06.10.06.00). I have problem with remote mirroring functionality. When ISL is disconnected for a second the storages can not see again anymore (until I shut; no shut; one of the ports dedicated for remote mirroring). I wanted to figure out where the problem lies (who is guilty ;-) ) and debug this issue on the FC layer. A read "FC Analyzer and SPAN for MDS Switches Configuration Example" but another problems with MDS FC capturing showed up: 1. I do not have PAA (Port Analyzer Adapter) so according to the documentation I can not use SPAN functionality. I am wondering why MDS can not use mgmt port to encapsulate FC frames into Ethernet or GigabitEthernet ports from FC IP card? 2. I tried to use "fcanlyzer" command to capture traffic between switch and devices: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief Warning: Couldn't obtain netmask info (eth2: no IPv4 address assigned). Capturing on eth2 0.000000 ff.ff.fd - ff.ff.fd 0x7a6 0xffff SW_ILS HLO == What does this warning mean? There is no such interface eth2. The interface names eth[0-9] are being used AFAIK only in Linux so is there Linux inside? Then I tried to limit traffic for example to one port but I could not find description to "display-filter" option so I entered: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter blabla tethereal: Unexpected end of filter string. == Hmmm so there is [t]Ethereal inside. I found in Ethereal documentation what filters I can use. Next I entered: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter fc.d_id==0x020100 Warning: Couldn't obtain netmask info (eth2: no IPv4 address assigned). Capturing on eth2 == But it does not work. There is traffic "from" and "to" FCID 0x020100 (I can see it without fc.d_id==0x020100) but this command does not show it. Why? What is wrong? 3. I also tried "fcanalyzer remote" but it looks like it does not work at all. 4. Another "funny" thing is that it dumps a core in many situations ;-) == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter fc.id==ff.ff.fd Segmentation fault - core dumped == If you have any experiences with capturing FC frames on Cisco MDS please share. FUT warning -- Konrad Madej |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Konrad,
I have some experience with the SPAN port. My company (Finisar) did some testing on the technology for the purpose of producing a whitepaper on analysis via SPAN to promote Cisco's technology and our analyzers. (http://www.finisar.com/nt/analyze.php) As we are still negotiating with Cisco about the paper I cannot send it to you yet. However, I can answer some fundamental questions about the SPAN port. Below are some pros, cons, and recommendations regarding SPAN that are not in Cisco's docs. If you (or anyone else) have questions about SPAN please email me contact information to the email above. I'll answer you from my work account. (I use a Yahoo intermediate account so as not to clog my work email with SPAM from Google.) I should complete the paper within the next few weeks. Let me know if you'd like a copy when it's completed. I'd be interested in feedback as to if the paper helps you. Chris Cicchetti - Finisar Pros •Provides analysis location without breaking links or bringing down the SAN •Mirrors all frame data •Passes Upper-Layer Protocol (ULP) errors •Provides all data under load in same-rate one-to-one port mirroring Cons • Does not mirror link primitives or errors • Does not pass corrupted frames ( frames with errors) • Drops frames if input rate exceeds output rate • Introduces latency Recommendations • The SPAN port mirrors data after the switch's Media Access (MAC) layer. Do not use the SPAN port to debug Link Layer problems. • The SPAN port will arbitrarily drop traffic under heavy load. Use the SPAN port for low-capacity situations. Use TAPs inline for other situations. • The SPAN port provides no flow control mechanism. Utilize analyzers that provide full line-rate monitoring. Konrad Madej wrote in message ... Hello all! Recently I am testing SAN network: two MDS 9216 (system 1.3(6)) and two storages IBM FaST 900 (firmware 06.10.06.00). I have problem with remote mirroring functionality. When ISL is disconnected for a second the storages can not see again anymore (until I shut; no shut; one of the ports dedicated for remote mirroring). I wanted to figure out where the problem lies (who is guilty ;-) ) and debug this issue on the FC layer. A read "FC Analyzer and SPAN for MDS Switches Configuration Example" but another problems with MDS FC capturing showed up: 1. I do not have PAA (Port Analyzer Adapter) so according to the documentation I can not use SPAN functionality. I am wondering why MDS can not use mgmt port to encapsulate FC frames into Ethernet or GigabitEthernet ports from FC IP card? 2. I tried to use "fcanlyzer" command to capture traffic between switch and devices: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief Warning: Couldn't obtain netmask info (eth2: no IPv4 address assigned). Capturing on eth2 0.000000 ff.ff.fd - ff.ff.fd 0x7a6 0xffff SW_ILS HLO == What does this warning mean? There is no such interface eth2. The interface names eth[0-9] are being used AFAIK only in Linux so is there Linux inside? Then I tried to limit traffic for example to one port but I could not find description to "display-filter" option so I entered: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter blabla tethereal: Unexpected end of filter string. == Hmmm so there is [t]Ethereal inside. I found in Ethereal documentation what filters I can use. Next I entered: == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter fc.d_id==0x020100 Warning: Couldn't obtain netmask info (eth2: no IPv4 address assigned). Capturing on eth2 == But it does not work. There is traffic "from" and "to" FCID 0x020100 (I can see it without fc.d_id==0x020100) but this command does not show it. Why? What is wrong? 3. I also tried "fcanalyzer remote" but it looks like it does not work at all. 4. Another "funny" thing is that it dumps a core in many situations ;-) == mds-gorny(config)# fcanalyzer local brief display-filter fc.id==ff.ff.fd Segmentation fault - core dumped == If you have any experiences with capturing FC frames on Cisco MDS please share. FUT warning |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
writing cd`s | biggmark | Cdr | 7 | December 31st 04 08:57 AM |
Are you having trouble with dropped frames while video capturing and using a MSI-K7N2 Delta motherboard with onboard sound? | NeonBlue | Nvidia Videocards | 0 | September 1st 04 07:16 PM |
P4P800-d and dropped frames while capturing video | Rick | Asus Motherboards | 8 | February 25th 04 05:02 AM |
FX 5200 users (and possibly other users check this out!) | E-rich | Nvidia Videocards | 6 | October 3rd 03 09:22 PM |
Capturing frames from an iVista cam site | O'erclockd Proc | Webcams | 0 | August 11th 03 04:48 PM |