Brocade 5100 Switch
 
Brocade 5300 Switch
 
Brocade 300 Switch
 

PLA-Support>Sun Systems>DISK>Switch>SN-DK: Brocade Switch
 

In this Document

Symptoms

Cause

Solution

References

Created from <SR 3-11421705021>

Applies to:

Symptoms

When attempting to connect new devices (8GB FC HBAs) to Brocade 5300 (or any other 8GB Brocade FC switch) ports are showing as "No_Sync" and are failing to negotiate at 8Gb

Version:
Kernel: 2.6.14.2
Fabric OS: v7.2.1d

All ports are running at 4GB :

 
..although the SFPs are all 8GB

Checked 8GB SFPs 57-10000012-01 (a Brocade-certified, 8Gb, "Brocade-labeled" SFP) are used
ensuring same-speed SFPs on both adapter (FC HBA) and switch.

There are three licenses installed:

Note. On another working switch we can see an additional 8 Gig FC license

Cause

The 8Gb license is not present on this switch

From page 15 of the "Fabric OS Software Licensing Guide , Supporting Fabric OS 7.2.1 ,  53-1003110-01"
this clearly explains the problem:

-------------------------------
8G licensing

ATTENTION
The 8G license is installed by default and you should not remove it. Port operation may become
disrupted, and ports may be prevented from operating at 8 Gbps when the license is removed.

The 8G license applies to the Brocade 300, 5100, 5300, and VA-40FC switches and the 8 Gbps
embedded switches;

The following list describes the basic rules of using, adding, or removing 8G licenses:

• Without an 8G license, even if there is an 8 Gbps SFP plugged into a port in an applicable
platform, the port would be enabled to run at a maximum speed of 4 Gbps.

• To obtain an 8G license, only the license ID from the switch is required. When you add the 8G
license, you must enter either the portDisable and portEnable commands on each individual
port on the switch, or the switchDisable and switchEnable commands on the switch, to enable
8 Gbps features.

• When you remove the 8G license, the ports that are online and already running at 8 Gbps are
not disturbed until the port goes offline or the switch is rebooted. The switch ports return to
their pre-licensed state maximum speed of 4 Gbps.
-------------------------------

Solution

Workaround

This will allow the device to connect at 4Gb speed :

- Set the speed to a fixed value of 4Gb on the switch port where the FC HBA is connected :
portcfgspeed -i <switch_port> 4

or

- Set the FC HBA to fixed speed (on the host) rather than auto-negotiate

Solution

Note. As explained on Cause section, once installed the 8Gb Speed license, you must enter either the portDisable and portEnable commands on each individual port on the switch (this disrupt IO on the port)
or the switchDisable and switchEnable commands on the switch (also IO traffic will be disrupted)

You will need the correspondent License Key to install the 8Gb Speed License on your Brocade switch

A) To install the License Key:

Note: The following instructions assume the switch has been attached to a network
and is accessible from your PC or workstation.

Via Telnet
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Connect to the switch via telnet session from a terminal emulation program initiated on a PC or workstation on your network.
2. Type the command: telnet [switch IP address] When prompted, enter Administrator User name and password.
3. After login, enter the command: licenseAdd (quotes are needed for this command). Be sure to enter the license key value exactly as received.
4. Check the status of installed license features by entering the command: licenseShow. This command displays a list of all licensed features enabled on the switch.

From web browser (via GUI)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Connect to the switch with your browser.
From the Switch view, select the Admin button.
2. When prompted, enter administrator user name and password.
3. On successful login, you will be presented the Admin screen, select the License Admin tab, Enter the new License Key. Be sure to enter the license key value exactly as received.
4. Select the Add License button.

B) To obtain the License Key:

If you don't have the License Key , login to Brocade Website to generate the License Key, two other things are required:

1. The Unit's Unique ID
2. The Transaction Key

1. The Unit's Unique ID.

Use the the FOS License ID (LID).
License ID (LID)  is a 23 character alpha numeric and hexadecimal number, separated with ":"
For example: 10:00:00:60:69:XX:XX:XX

Obtain the License ID of the switch or chassis that you wish to install this license feature on, using one of the following methods:

a) CLI: Connect to the switch using telnet/SSH or connect using the console. Log in as admin. Enter licenseidshow to display the license ID of the switch.
b) GUI: Connect to the switch using a Web browser (this will open Web Tools). Log in as admin and enter your switch password. The License ID value is  shown in the Switch Information view for the switch.

2. The Transaction Key

The Transaction Key is a 22 character alpha Numeric and hexadecimal key (Allowed characters are A-F,a-f,0-9).
It is available with the License Product document or with the email received from the order.

C) Alternatively, contact your Brocade Support Vendor and provide them the "License ID" and "The Transaction Key" to generate the License Key for you.

Explained on:

How to Generate Brocade License Key from Transaction Key (Doc ID 1682271.1)

References

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