I have A nexus 7009 switch that is just running as a single unit with just routing and only admin vdc and one prod vdc and no vpc,fabric path etc used on it . My question is we need to replace the older 2 cards. can we replace the M2 and F2 line cards below with new F3 line cards as is into the same slot and will it just take that same line card config? Will that work or Does it need a particular process ? even a simple link to a cisco website explain this is all I need as I cannot find a clear answer on this ? I found something about allocating the new line card respource in the admin vdc
M/F2 cards
N7K-M224XP-23L
N7K-F248XP-25E
F3 Card
N7K-F348XP-25
Hi rnrnx thanks for the comments and the help is much appreciated
So as it stands we have the code version upgraded to the code to support F3 card so that is ok . We have on an off line backups also and we have two separate core 7ks so will only be touching one at a time so no service interruption should occur and we have a change window approved. Based upon what you were saying and what we have currently assigned to the vdc the steps would be below . Also should we suspend the vdc at some point in the process ?
First step
F2 swap out to F3
1) Logical shut down of all interfaces on line card 5 N7K-F248XP-25E i.e. shutdown interfaces xx
2) Power down line card 5 module N7K-F248XP-25E
3) Remove line card 5 and cables
4) Insert F3 N7K-F348XP-25 line card into slots
5) Patch cables to F3 card
6) On the admin vdc change resource allocation to limit-resource module-type m2xl F3
7) Power up line card 5
8) Un shut interfaces and confirm are working and showing up in PROD-B vdc
9) Copy config to startup
Second steps
M2 swap out to F3
1) Logical shut down of all interfaces on lines cards 3 and 4 N7K-M224XP-23L i.e. shutdown interfaces xx
2) Power down line card 3 and 4 module N7K-M224XP-23L
3) Remove line card 3 and 4 and cables
4) Insert F3 N7K-F348XP-25 line card into slots
5) Patch cables to F3 cards
6) On the admin vdc change resource allocation to limit-resource module-type F3
7) Power up line card 3 and 4
8) Unshut interfaces and confirm are working
Current Modules and VDC allocation
Mod Ports Module-Type Model Status
1 0 Supervisor Module-2 N7K-SUP2E ha-standby
2 0 Supervisor Module-2 N7K-SUP2E active *
3 24 10 Gbps Ethernet Module N7K-M224XP-23L ok
4 24 10 Gbps Ethernet Module N7K-M224XP-23L ok
5 48 1/10 Gbps Ethernet Module N7K-F248XP-25E ok
vdc PROD-B id 2
limit-resource module-type m2xl f2e
cpu-share 5
allocate interface Ethernet3/1-24
allocate interface Ethernet4/1-24
allocate interface Ethernet5/1-48 (
Best Answer
Not quite directly, and not without interrupting service for a bit. VDC's on the 7K can generally support a hybrid mode of two linecard types. In your case it's M2-F2e. If you were to swap both the M2 and the F2e out and replaced them with F3's you'd then need to change the VDC type. The configuration from the F2e should be directly applicable on that F3 blade. The M2 obviously has fewer ports.
I'd save the configuration (both on- and off- box) before making any changes. I'd also suggest making sure you've upgraded to a relatively recent code version before swapping blades around. At that point you might consider first swapping the F2e blade for the F3 and then switching the VDC mode to M2-F3. At that point you should be able to swap the M2 blade.
Alternately - if you have the open slots - you could just establish a second F3-only VDC, get the blades up, pre-configure and just move the connections en-masse. If the box is part of a redundant pair this could be argued to be the least disruptive.