HBA recommended as FC target

HBA recommended as FC target

[Thomas Glanzmann]

Hello,
I look for a FC HBA that works with the Linux target. Can somone
recommend a HBA type to me?

Cheers,
        Thomas

Sniffing FC traffic

[Thomas Glanzmann]

Hello,
I would like to create a setup that allows me to sniff FC traffic. Is it
possible with Linux or can someone recommend a setup that works. I want
to avoid buying a 120kUSD fabric analyzer.

Cheers,
        Thomas

Re: HBA recommended as FC target

[Laurence Oberman]

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 8:36 AM, Thomas Glanzmann <thomas@glanzmann.de> wrote:
> Hello,
> I look for a FC HBA that works with the Linux target. Can somone
> recommend a HBA type to me?
>
> Cheers,
>         Thomas

Hello

Any of the Qlogic qla24xx or qla25xx and higher that allow you to
disable initiator mode will work.
I use qla25xx 8Gbit in all my Target arrays.

Thanks
Laurence

Re: Sniffing FC traffic

[Laurence Oberman]

On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 8:37 AM, Thomas Glanzmann <thomas@glanzmann.de> wrote:
> Hello,
> I would like to create a setup that allows me to sniff FC traffic. Is it
> possible with Linux or can someone recommend a setup that works. I want
> to avoid buying a 120kUSD fabric analyzer.
>
> Cheers,
>         Thomas

There is no way to do this using adapters and generic F/C with Linux as the O/S.
The ability to enable debugging in the F/C drivers will expose some of
the internals but there is no way to sniff directly as far as I am
aware.

Many switches allow port level tracing facilities but inline sniffing
using Linux and generic hosts is not possible.

We have Finisars for inline tracing when we have to debug host and
fabric issues.

Software based FCOE using libfc and the Intel cards for example will
allow Wireshark tracing but that is encapsulated F/C in Ethernet
packets hence the Wireshark ability.

Thanks
Laurence

Re: Sniffing FC traffic

[Steve Magnani]

On 08/18/2017 08:31 AM, Laurence Oberman wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 8:37 AM, Thomas Glanzmann <thomas@glanzmann.de> wrote:
>> I would like to create a setup that allows me to sniff FC traffic. Is it
>> possible with Linux or can someone recommend a setup that works. I want
>> to avoid buying a 120kUSD fabric analyzer.
>>
> There is no way to do this using adapters and generic F/C with Linux as the O/S.
> The ability to enable debugging in the F/C drivers will expose some of
> the internals but there is no way to sniff directly as far as I am
> aware.
>
> Many switches allow port level tracing facilities but inline sniffing
> using Linux and generic hosts is not possible.
>
> We have Finisars for inline tracing when we have to debug host and
> fabric issues.
>
> Software based FCOE using libfc and the Intel cards for example will
> allow Wireshark tracing but that is encapsulated F/C in Ethernet
> packets hence the Wireshark ability.
>
>
We have had some success using a (Teledyne) LeCroy analyzer. Its GUI 
(SierraNet) runs only on a Windows host, but it is capable of exporting 
a capture to Wireshark. This mostly shows just the ELS and FCP 
transactions; to debug low-level link issues you'd have to work with the 
original capture in SierraNet.

Like any other kind of analyzer the cost will be proportional to the 
speed of the link you're trying to sniff and the amount of capture depth 
you need. You may be able to save some money by getting secondhand 
equipment and/or running the link at lower speed when you need to debug 
something.

Regards,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Steven J. Magnani               "I claim this network for MARS!
www.digidescorp.com Earthling, return my space modulator!"

  #include <standard.disclaimer>

Re: HBA recommended as FC target

[Thomas Glanzmann]

Hello Laurence,

* Laurence Oberman <oberman.l@gmail.com> [2017-08-18 15:26]:
> Any of the Qlogic qla24xx or qla25xx and higher that allow you to
> disable initiator mode will work.  I use qla25xx 8Gbit in all my
> Target arrays.

thank you for your recommendations I ordered a Qlogic QLE2462-HP
-PX2510401 - 4GB 2-Port Fibre on ebay.

* Laurence Oberman <oberman.l@gmail.com> [2017-08-18 15:31]:
> There is no way to do this using adapters and generic F/C with Linux
> as the O/S. The ability to enable debugging in the F/C drivers will
> expose some of the internals but there is no way to sniff directly as
> far as I am aware.

I enabled debugging in the Linux target once and I could see quiet
detailed information. Probably this will be enough for me. At the time I
was debugging SCSI reservations.

> Many switches allow port level tracing facilities but inline sniffing
> using Linux and generic hosts is not possible.

Are you aware of facilities in entry level brocade switches that I can
use. I just have to trace one port.

Cheers,
        Thomas

Re: Sniffing FC traffic

[Thomas Glanzmann]

Hello Steve,

> We have had some success using a (Teledyne) LeCroy analyzer. Its GUI

I found a LeCroy FC analyzer on ebay for 500 EURs. I'm not buying it
yet, but keep it in mind. Much less the cost I had in mind (100 T EUR).

Cheers,
        Thomas