They don’t detect any SFP+ DAC cable with the SFP+ NICs.
They don’t detect any SFP+ DAC cable with the SFP+ NICs.
Hi everyone, I'm facing an issue with my Emulex OCE11102-N-XI nics not detecting any connection. It's supposed to work as a peer-to-peer link between a freenas server and a workstation, but everything seems fine—hardware is recognized, driver is up to date (version 11.0.273.8008), and network settings are configured correctly. The only problem is that Windows doesn't see an Ethernet cable connected. I've tried using a 3m passive dac and adjusted settings without success. This has been frustrating for a few days, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.
FWIW: SFPs are a common size, but that's about it. When I was at EMC with roughly $2 million worth of SFP modules in various types (longwave, shortwave, experimental, converged, twinax, etc.), the only way to confirm compatibility was to physically test them. Of course, if an HCL list claimed they'd work, we'd take it at face value until proven otherwise. But without that list? We'd just try and see. Usually, if something wasn't listed, it wouldn't function at all. SFP+ can be quite unpredictable.
Thanks for the details, you may want to explore compatible sfp+ adapters since you'll likely need them when the network grows.
Checked the part number for what seemed like generic unbranded passive sfp+ cables—it actually matched Molex 74752-2301 cables from Emulex's HCL line. I was planning to purchase some SFPD+ optics and fiber cables but now feel uncertain. Perhaps testing an older firmware version would help?
Going backwards on firmware is case-by-case. Double check that is supported first. If possible, call the HBA vendor and ask support. Reading docs is nice, but the support line, if you have a contract, can tell you "Yea, it's supported, but there's a 50/50 shot of bricking the card." If the cables are on the HCL and not working...it's not unheard of, but it should work. *googles* Ah, ok, sloppy on my part. This is an OCE card. Those are the most fickle of fickle cards. They stop working just because they are in the wrong personality for the cable, or other such crap. Based on this: https://lenovopress.com/tips0844-emulex-...vfa-ii-iii what specific model number do you have? It may be that you need an additional license to use that cable. Specifically the ISCSI/FCOE module appears to be what may require an additional license.
According to Lenovo’s product guide, the adapters I own seem to be either the "Emulex 10GbE Integrated Virtual Fabric Adapter II" or the 49Y7940 models. Both Freena and Windows network adapter options list these cards with two ports. The Device Manager in Windows identifies eight virtual ports, which could indicate these cards are operating in virtual NIC mode rather than physical NIC mode. However, all ports except 0 and 1 appear to fail initialization, suggesting the cards might actually be in Pnic mode. Checking IBM’s support page (https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/858862) confirms that my 3M SFP+ Molex cable is recognized by IBM for these cards, pointing toward a software rather than hardware compatibility issue. A STH forum discussion warns that the Emulex 10GbE adapter needs to be enabled via Emulex’s OneConnect software; I’ve tried an older version but still can’t detect the NICs. Also, the original poster experienced issues with HCL-approved gear as well.
Each Emulex FCOE card required starting up through its own BIOS menu and adjusting its personality or other options. If OneConnect didn’t install properly, modifying those settings might help.
I started from the card's BIOS but reached only the PXE boot options. I noticed all connections were inactive and virtual ports showed zero bandwidth. I couldn't modify anything beyond enabling PXE support. Please confirm if I'm misunderstanding—should be able to toggle logical links directly here. Edit: It seems setting the system to function mode and switching to switch-independent mode is the solution, though this requires accessing the PXE boot menu in newer models. I discovered this can also be achieved during firmware flashing, but I don’t have access to any updates right now. Any alternative options? Thanks again. - Cinobro | Updated May 12, 2020