Extreme Networks X695 – 40Gbit, 100Gbit QSFP(28) Ports and Port Paritioning Explained

The Extreme Networks X695 switches have a special port configuration arrangement that you need to be aware of when configuring the switch for use.

Verified on: ExtremeXOS version 30.6.1.11 30.6.1.11-patch1-4 by release-manager on Tue Jul 7 10:36:05 EDT 2020

The switch supports the following:

• 48 x SFP28 1Gb/10Gb/25Gb Ports
• 8 x QSFP28 40Gb/100Gb Ports
  • Up to 8 x 40Gb/100Gb Ethernet Interfaces (adjust speed)
  • Up to 4 x 50Gb Ethernet Interfaces (Partitioned)
  • Up to 8 x 10Gb/25Gb Ethernet Interfaces (Partitioned)

Essentially the QSFP ports are numbered from ports 49-62, where ports 51 and 55 can be partitioned into (1 x 40Gbit, 2 x 50Gbit, 4 x 25Gbit or 4 x 10Gbit) with suitable transceiver and/or cabling assembly. If you want to partition a port you only have 2 ports 51 and 55 available to you. If you want to use 40Gbit you can change the speed of the port from 100Gbit to 40Gbit. The process of this is described below.

By default all ports are set to operate as follows:

# show port 49-62 config no-refresh
Port Configuration
Port     Virtual    Port  Link  Auto   Speed       Duplex   Flow  Load   Media
         router     State State Neg  Cfg Actual  Cfg Actual Cntrl Master Pri Red
================================================================================
49       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
50       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
51       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
52       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
53       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
54       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
55       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
56       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
57       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
58       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
59       VR-Default E      NP   OFF 25000        FULL                    NONE
60       VR-Default E       R   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
61       VR-Default E       A   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
62       VR-Default E       A   OFF  100G        FULL                    NONE
================================================================================

Configure a Non-Partitionable QSFP28 Port to Operate at 40Gbit

You can use a QSFP+ 40Gbit transceiver in the QSFP28 1x100Gbit port, however it will not work until the speed has been dialed down to 40Gbit, in this case we’re setting the 1x100Gbit QSFP28 port to operate at 40Gbit Full Duplex, you can use ports 49, 50, 55, 60, 61 and 62 in this way.

configure port 61 auto off speed 40000 duplex full

Essentially you don’t need to partition the port to run at 40Gbit, if you do attempt to partition a non-partitionable port you’ll see this error: Port 60 does not support port partitioning mode 1x40G

Configure a Partitionable Port to Operate at 40Gbit

You can also use a QSFP+ 40Gbit transceiver in the QSFP28 1x100Gbit port partitionable ports, however if you do you should ensure the port has been partitioned to match the speed of the transceiver in use, 40Gbit in this case. You can only partition ports 51 and 56 in this way.

configure port 51 partition 1x40G

Additionally you may need to adjust port speed to 40Gbit Full Duplex (show above) even when using partitioning.

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