#No Link on SFP+ DAG cables in C250 ?

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

meager geode
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We are trying to connect a C250 to our Forti switches, so we ordered Forti coded 10G DAG cables from FS.com. For some reason the NetApp doesn't like them? "No link" but works with other "cisco" cables... We are using the X1152 quad 10/25G card... tried different ways to "force" the speed but it keeps stating "no link"... we also tried connecting the cable from the Forti to a server, which links up... any ideas?

ancient venture
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You have to use NetApp supported DAC cables. If you cannot find a DAC cable that is supported on both sides, you have to use SFPs with optical cabling.
Note that is has happened before that cables or SFPs that were not officially supported (but worked) stopped working after an ONTAP update, so yeah, use supported SFPs and you're safe

meager geode
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ok, strange how NetApp sells a system without optics or DAG cables then... I have never seen that DAG cables stoped working after an update, so that would be a first for me. I normally use Cisco DAG cables because Cisco admins are a bit more picky about it... But I think we will try to code the cables for Cisco and see if it works...

ancient venture
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They sell the systems with whatever you order them with, usually you quote either DAC cables or optics. If you buy them without, they probably assume you have the correct parts lying around somewhere 🤷‍♂️
Cisco DAC cables usually do work fine though
The one time I remember seeing something break after an update was with optics (interestingly the "wrong" SFPs were also 10G NetApp SFPs but with a different P/N)

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... and E-Series optics (which are also for 10G) don't work in ONTAP systems either, they give you a link but start spitting errors as soon as you have any significant amount of traffic going over them

sharp barn
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If it’s 25g, you’re going to need to muck around with FEC mode. More than likely on the switch you can probably disable fec mode

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On the ONTAP side it is auto and will detect off. Most switches are set to like cl76 or cl91. Just set switch to off.

ancient venture
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true, but this is with 10G cables (no FEC setting there)

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fun fact: there are cables that you can buy and program the ID chip yourself (SmartOptics, FS) ... with these you can even code each end of a DAC cable with a different vendor ID to make it work. But I wouldn't do that in a production environment. Using SFPs is just so much easier (the cable is easier to route as well, you can have longer distances, etc.)

sharp barn
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Missed that!

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I’ve had customers get coded cables Intel/Cisco that worked on esx just fine

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Suppose you could get forti/Cisco and use the Cisco side on Netapp. Should be ok

ancient venture
sharp barn
sharp barn
# meager geode We are trying to connect a C250 to our Forti switches, so we ordered Forti coded...

Realize, not all transceivers are created equal. They require some form of support in the platform they are running. Netapp has more than likely including the programming for Cisco-coded DAC cables. I’ve seen plenty of dac cables not get a link on Netapp platforms.
Also, optics are even worse. Netapp has a list. If you choose to not use that list, you may end up with unnecessary errors in the transmission. The biggest culprit here is Intel. You must use Intel coded optics in Intel cards, even on Netapp. More so, the Intel optics generally do not work on non-Intel switches.

meager geode