Skip to main content
Cluster and storage switches

Install or upgrade the Reference Configuration File (RCF)

Contributors netapp-yvonneo netapp-jolieg
PDFs

You install the Reference Configuration File (RCF) after setting up the Nexus 9336C-FX2 switch for the first time. You upgrade your RCF version when you have an existing version of the RCF file installed on your switch.

Available RCF configurations

The following table describes the RCFs available for different configurations. Choose the RCF applicable to your configuration.

For specific port and VLAN usage details, refer to the banner and important notes section in your RCF.

RCF name Description

2-Cluster-HA-Breakout

Supports two ONTAP clusters with at least eight nodes, including nodes that use shared Cluster+HA ports.

4-Cluster-HA-Breakout

Supports four ONTAP clusters with at least four nodes, including nodes that use shared Cluster+HA ports.

1-Cluster-HA

All ports are configured for 40/100GbE. Supports shared cluster/HA traffic on ports. Required for AFF A320, AFF A250, and FAS500f systems. Additionally, all ports can be used as dedicated cluster ports.

1-Cluster-HA-Breakout

Ports are configured for 4x10GbE breakout, 4x25GbE breakout (RCF 1.6+ on 100GbE switches), and 40/100GbE. Supports shared cluster/HA traffic on ports for nodes that use shared cluster/HA ports: AFF A320, AFF A250, and FAS500f systems. Additionally, all ports can be used as dedicated cluster ports.

Cluster-HA-Storage

Ports are configured for 40/100GbE for Cluster+HA, 4x10GbE breakout for Cluster and 4x25GbE breakout for Cluster+HA, and 100GbE for each Storage HA Pair.

Cluster

Two flavors of RCF with different allocations of 4x10GbE ports (breakout) and 40/100GbE ports. All FAS/AFF nodes are supported, except for AFF A320, AFF A250, and FAS500f systems.

Storage

All ports are configured for 100GbE NVMe storage connections.
Suggested documentation

  • Cisco Ethernet Switches (NSS)

    Consult the switch compatibility table for the supported ONTAP and RCF versions on the NetApp Support Site. Note that there can be command dependencies between the command syntax in the RCF and the syntax found in specific versions of NX-OS.

  • Cisco Nexus 3000 Series Switches

    Refer to the appropriate software and upgrade guides available on the Cisco website for complete documentation on the Cisco switch upgrade and downgrade procedures.

About the examples

The examples in this procedure use the following switch and node nomenclature:

  • The names of the two Cisco switches are cs1 and cs2.

  • The node names are cluster1-01, cluster1-02, cluster1-03, and cluster1-04.

  • The cluster LIF names are cluster1-01_clus1, cluster1-01_clus2, cluster1-02_clus1, cluster1-02_clus2 , cluster1-03_clus1, cluster1-03_clus2, cluster1-04_clus1, and cluster1-04_clus2.

  • The cluster1::*> prompt indicates the name of the cluster.

The examples in this procedure use four nodes. These nodes use two 10GbE cluster interconnect ports e0a and e0b. See the Hardware Universe to verify the correct cluster ports on your platforms.

Note The command outputs might vary depending on different releases of ONTAP.

For details of the available RCF configurations, see Software install workflow.

Commands used

The procedure requires the use of both ONTAP commands and Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches commands; ONTAP commands are used unless otherwise indicated.

Option 1: Install RCF file on a new switch

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

Unresolved directive in install-nxos-rcf-9336c-cluster.adoc - include::../_include/install-rcf-software-9336c-cluster.adoc[]

Option 2: Upgrade existing switches with a new RCF version

You upgrade your RCF version when you have an existing version of the RCF file installed on your operational switches.

Before you begin

Make sure you have the following:

  • A current backup of the switch configuration.

  • A fully functioning cluster (no errors in the logs or similar issues).

  • The current RCF file.

  • If you are updating your RCF version, you need a boot configuration in the RCF that reflects the desired boot images.

    If you need to change the boot configuration to reflect the current boot images, you must do so before reapplying the RCF so that the correct version is instantiated on future reboots.

Note No operational inter-switch link (ISL) is needed during this procedure. This is by design because RCF version changes can affect ISL connectivity temporarily. To ensure non-disruptive cluster operations, the following procedure migrates all of the cluster LIFs to the operational partner switch while performing the steps on the target switch.
Caution Before installing a new switch software version and RCFs, you must erase the switch settings and perform basic configuration. You must be connected to the switch using the serial console or have preserved basic configuration information prior to erasing the switch settings.

Unresolved directive in install-nxos-rcf-9336c-cluster.adoc - include::../_include/upgrade-rcf-software-9336c-cluster.adoc[]