Configuring an Ethernet uplink on Cisco UCS Fabric Interconnect

In this recipe, we will learn how to configure the Ethernet uplink on Cisco Fabric Interconnect.

Getting ready

Prepare a Cisco UCS 5108 Chassis with two UCS IOM 2208XP installed, each UCS IOM is connected to one Cisco UCS 6428UP, and configure two ports on each Cisco UCS 6428UP as the Ethernet uplink port (port 17/18), which is connected to a Cisco LAN Switch by Fibre Channel cables. The details are shown in the following diagram:

How to do it…

In this recipe, we will learn how to configure an inpidual Ethernet uplink on Fabric Interconnect (FI).

The following steps configure the Ethernet uplink:

1. Assume that ports 1 to 24 are the Ethernet ports on each Fabric Interconnect.
2. Log in to UCS Manager and click on the Equipment tab in the navigation pane. In the Equipment tab, click on Fabric Interconnects, as shown:
   
3. Verify that the Ethernet Mode of FI is End Host, as shown in the following screenshot:
   

   Note

   You need to change the Ethernet Mode to the End host if the mode is in the Switching Mode. Fabric Interconnect is required to reboot if it changes the Ethernet Mode.

4. Assume that ports 17 and 18 are not configured, now configure these two ports as uplink port by right-clicking on port 17 and 18 and selecting Configure as Uplink Port, as shown in the following screenshot:
   

   Repeat the preceding steps to configure all the uplink ports on another Fabric Interconnects.

How it works…

In this recipe, we will learn how to verify the state of an Ethernet uplink on FI.

Validation

The Role of the port (17 and 18) is to display Network after configuring the port as an uplink port. The Admin State displays Enabled and Overall Status displays Up, as shown in the following screenshot:

Repeat the preceding procedure to verify all the uplink ports on another Fabric Interconnects.

There's more…

The following table lists the comparison of Ethernet uplinks between Cisco UCS and other band Blades: