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Cluster and storage switches

Install or upgrade the Reference Configuration File

Contributors netapp-yvonneo

You install the Reference Configuration File (RCF) after setting up the Nexus 9336C-FX2 and 9336C-FX2-T storage switches for the first time.

See the Knowledge Base article How to clear configuration on a Cisco interconnect switch while retaining remote connectivity for further information when installing your RCF.

Before you begin

Verify the following installations and connections:

  • A console connection to the switch. The console connection is optional if you have remote access to the switch.

  • Switch cs1 and switch cs2 are powered up and the initial switch setup is complete (the Management IP address and SSH is set up).

  • The desired NX-OS version has been installed.

  • ONTAP node cluster ports are not connected.

Step 1: Install the RCF on the switches

  1. Login to switch cs1 using SSH or by using a serial console.

  2. Copy the RCF to the bootflash of switch cs1 using one of the following transfer protocols: FTP, TFTP, SFTP, or SCP.

    For more information on Cisco commands, see the appropriate guide in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Command Reference.

    Show example

    This example shows TFTP being used to copy an RCF to the bootflash on switch cs1:

    cs1# copy tftp: bootflash: vrf management
    Enter source filename: Nexus_9336C_RCF_v1.6-Storage.txt
    Enter hostname for the tftp server: 172.22.201.50
    Trying to connect to tftp server......Connection to Server Established.
    TFTP get operation was successful
    Copy complete, now saving to disk (please wait)...
  3. Apply the RCF previously downloaded to the bootflash.

    For more information on Cisco commands, see the appropriate guide in the Cisco Nexus 9000 Series NX-OS Command Reference.

    Show example

    This example shows the RCF Nexus_9336C_RCF_v1.6-Storage.txt being installed on switch cs1:

    cs1# copy NNexus_9336C_RCF_v1.6-Storage.txt running-config echo-commands
  4. Examine the banner output from the show banner motd command. You must read and follow these instructions to ensure the correct configuration and operation of the switch.

    Show example
    cs1# show banner motd
    
    ******************************************************************************
    * NetApp Reference Configuration File (RCF)
    *
    * Switch    : Nexus N9K-C9336C-FX2
    * Filename  : Nexus_9336C_RCF_v1.6-Storage.txt
    * Date      : 10-23-2020
    * Version   : v1.6
    *
    * Port Usage : Storage configuration
    * Ports  1-36: 100GbE Controller and Shelf Storage Ports
    ******************************************************************************
  5. Verify that the RCF is the correct newer version:

    show running-config

    When you check the output to verify you have the correct RCF, make sure that the following information is correct:

    • The RCF banner

    • The node and port settings

    • Customizations

      The output varies according to your site configuration. Check the port settings and refer to the release notes for any changes specific to the RCF that you have installed.

  6. Reapply any previous customizations to the switch configuration. Refer to Review cabling and configuration considerations for details of any further changes required.

  7. Save basic configuration details to the write_erase.cfg file on the bootflash.

    cs1# show run | i "username admin password" > bootflash:write_erase.cfg

    cs1# show run | section "vrf context management" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

    cs1# show run | section "interface mgmt0" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

    cs1# show run | section "switchname" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

  8. For RCF version 1.12 and later, run the following commands:

    cs1# echo "hardware access-list tcam region ing-racl 1024" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

    cs1# echo "hardware access-list tcam region egr-racl 1024" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

    cs1# echo "hardware access-list tcam region ing-l2-qos 1280" >> bootflash:write_erase.cfg

  9. Verify that the write_erase.cfg file is populated as expected:

    show file bootflash:write_erase.cfg

  10. Issue the write erase command to erase the current saved configuration:

    cs1# write erase

    Warning: This command will erase the startup-configuration.

    Do you wish to proceed anyway? (y/n) [n] y

  11. Copy the previously saved basic configuration into the startup configuration.

    cs1# copy bootflash:write_erase.cfg startup-config

  12. Reboot switch cs1.

    cs1# reload

    This command will reboot the system. (y/n)? [n] y

  13. Repeat steps 1 through 12 on switch cs2.

  14. Connect the cluster ports of all nodes in the ONTAP cluster to switches cs1 and cs2.

Step 2: Verify the switch connections

  1. Verify that the switch ports connected to the cluster ports are up.

    show interface brief

    Show example
    cs1# show interface brief | grep up
    mgmt0  --           up     <mgmt ip address>                       1000    1500
    Eth1/11         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/12         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/13         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/14         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/15         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/16         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/17         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/18         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/23         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/24         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/25         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/26         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/27         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/28         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/29         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
    Eth1/30         1       eth  trunk  up      none                     100G(D) --
  2. Verify that the cluster nodes are in their correct cluster VLANs using the following commands:

    show vlan brief

    show interface trunk

    Show example
    cs1# show vlan brief
    
    VLAN Name                             Status    Ports
    ---- -------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------
    1    default                          active    Po999
    30   VLAN0030                         active    Eth1/1, Eth1/2, Eth1/3, Eth1/4
                                                    Eth1/5, Eth1/6, Eth1/7, Eth1/8
                                                    Eth1/9, Eth1/10, Eth1/11
                                                    Eth1/12, Eth1/13, Eth1/14
                                                    Eth1/15, Eth1/16, Eth1/17
                                                    Eth1/18, Eth1/19, Eth1/20
                                                    Eth1/21, Eth1/22, Eth1/23
                                                    Eth1/24, Eth1/25, Eth1/26
                                                    Eth1/27, Eth1/28, Eth1/29
                                                    Eth1/30, Eth1/31, Eth1/32
                                                    Eth1/33, Eth1/34, Eth1/35
                                                    Eth1/36
    
    cs1# show interface trunk
    
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Port          Native  Status        Port
                  Vlan                  Channel
    -----------------------------------------------------
    Eth1/1        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/2        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/3        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/4        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/5        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/6        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/7        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/8        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/9        1       trunking      --
    Eth1/10       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/11       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/12       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/13       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/14       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/15       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/16       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/17       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/18       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/19       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/20       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/21       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/22       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/23       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/24       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/25       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/26       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/27       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/28       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/29       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/30       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/31       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/32       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/33       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/34       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/35       1       trunking      --
    Eth1/36       1       trunking      --
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Port          Vlans Allowed on Trunk
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Eth1/1        30
    Eth1/2        30
    Eth1/3        30
    Eth1/4        30
    Eth1/5        30
    Eth1/6        30
    Eth1/7        30
    Eth1/8        30
    Eth1/9        30
    Eth1/10       30
    Eth1/11       30
    Eth1/12       30
    Eth1/13       30
    Eth1/14       30
    Eth1/15       30
    Eth1/16       30
    Eth1/17       30
    Eth1/18       30
    Eth1/19       30
    Eth1/20       30
    Eth1/21       30
    Eth1/22       30
    Eth1/23       30
    Eth1/24       30
    Eth1/25       30
    Eth1/26       30
    Eth1/27       30
    Eth1/28       30
    Eth1/29       30
    Eth1/30       30
    Eth1/31       30
    Eth1/32       30
    Eth1/33       30
    Eth1/34       30
    Eth1/35       30
    Eth1/36       30
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Port          Vlans Err-disabled on Trunk
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Eth1/1        none
    Eth1/2        none
    Eth1/3        none
    Eth1/4        none
    Eth1/5        none
    Eth1/6        none
    Eth1/7        none
    Eth1/8        none
    Eth1/9        none
    Eth1/10       none
    Eth1/11       none
    Eth1/12       none
    Eth1/13       none
    Eth1/14       none
    Eth1/15       none
    Eth1/16       none
    Eth1/17       none
    Eth1/18       none
    Eth1/19       none
    Eth1/20       none
    Eth1/21       none
    Eth1/22       none
    Eth1/23       none
    Eth1/24       none
    Eth1/25       none
    Eth1/26       none
    Eth1/27       none
    Eth1/28       none
    Eth1/29       none
    Eth1/30       none
    Eth1/31       none
    Eth1/32       none
    Eth1/33       none
    Eth1/34       none
    Eth1/35       none
    Eth1/36       none
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Port          STP Forwarding
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Eth1/1        none
    Eth1/2        none
    Eth1/3        none
    Eth1/4        none
    Eth1/5        none
    Eth1/6        none
    Eth1/7        none
    Eth1/8        none
    Eth1/9        none
    Eth1/10       none
    Eth1/11       30
    Eth1/12       30
    Eth1/13       30
    Eth1/14       30
    Eth1/15       30
    Eth1/16       30
    Eth1/17       30
    Eth1/18       30
    Eth1/19       none
    Eth1/20       none
    Eth1/21       none
    Eth1/22       none
    Eth1/23       30
    Eth1/24       30
    Eth1/25       30
    Eth1/26       30
    Eth1/27       30
    Eth1/28       30
    Eth1/29       30
    Eth1/30       30
    Eth1/31       none
    Eth1/32       none
    Eth1/33       none
    Eth1/34       none
    Eth1/35       none
    Eth1/36       none
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Port          Vlans in spanning tree forwarding state and not pruned
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Eth1/1        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/2        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/3        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/4        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/5        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/6        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/7        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/8        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/9        Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/10       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/11       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/12       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/13       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/14       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/15       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/16       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/17       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/18       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/19       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/20       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/21       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/22       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/23       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/24       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/25       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/26       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/27       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/28       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/29       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/30       Feature VTP is not enabled
    30
    Eth1/31       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/32       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/33       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/34       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/35       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Eth1/36       Feature VTP is not enabled
    none
    Note For specific port and VLAN usage details, refer to the banner and important notes section in your RCF.

Step 3: Set up your ONTAP cluster

NetApp recommends that you use System Manager to set up new clusters.

System Manager provides a simple and easy workflow for cluster setup and configuration including assigning a node management IP address, initializing the cluster, creating a local tier, configuring protocols and provisioning initial storage.

What's next?

After you've installed or upgraded your RCF, you verify the SSH configuration