[c-nsp] nexus 5xx vpc peer keepalives

[Ryan West]

Scott,

> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 6:36 PM
> To: cisco-nsp at puck.nether.net
> Subject: [c-nsp] nexus 5xx vpc peer keepalives
> 
> Tony,
> 
> Read this as well ( it talks about NOT using the mgmt0 for peer keep alives
> ) - we are trying this too
> 
> http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/datacenter/nexus5000/sw/layer2/Cisco_
> Nexus_5000_Series_NX-OS__chapter8.html
> 
> After figure 6, step 3 there is this text ;
> Note
> VLAN 900 must not be trunked across the vPC peer-link because it carries the
> vPC
> peer-keepalive messages. There must be an alternative path between
> switches NX-5000-1 and
> NX-5000-2 for the vPC peer-keepalive messages.
> 
> The problem we are encountering is that if we drop the peer vlan from
> the 5k to 5k link then we get weird errors as well.
> 

I have mine configured on the management VRF and haven't run into any issues, I believe that is the recommended configuration.  Check out the design guides as well, if you're aren't using mgmt0, Cisco suggests using an SVI and a separate port.  Are you using a vPC to handle the peer-keepalive traffic?  I would imagine that's where the issue is stemming from if you are.

This is the document I was looking for on the original thread, but applies to your scenario as well.  I thought I had remembered it saying that back to back is okay for testing, but should not be used for production.  Look for vPC config best practices:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps9441/ps9670/C07-572829-01_Design_N5K_N2K_vPC_DG.pdf

HTH,

-ryan