So, you've got your hands on a shiny new Nexus 9000 switch and you're itching to get it up and running? Awesome! This guide will walk you through the initial configuration process, making sure you get everything set up correctly from the start. We'll cover the essentials, like setting up the management interface, configuring basic network settings, and getting your switch ready for more advanced configurations. Let's dive in!

1. Powering On and Initial Access

First things first, let's get the power on. Connect the power cables to the switch and power it up. Once it's booted, you'll need to access the switch's console. This is typically done via a serial connection. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A computer with a serial port or a USB-to-serial adapter.
• A serial cable (usually a DB9 to RJ45 cable).
• Terminal emulation software (like PuTTY or SecureCRT).

Connect the serial cable from your computer to the console port on the Nexus 9000. Open your terminal emulation software and configure the following settings:

• Baud rate: 9600
• Data bits: 8
• Parity: None
• Stop bits: 1
• Flow control: None

Once you've configured these settings, open the connection. You should see the switch's boot sequence scrolling by. After the boot process is complete, you'll be presented with a login prompt. The default credentials are:

• Username: admin
• Password: password

Important: Immediately change the default password once you're logged in for security reasons. Use the passwd command in the NX-OS CLI to do this.

nxos# configure terminal
nxos(config)# username admin password <new_password>
nxos(config)# exit
nxos# copy running-config startup-config

Best Practice: Always save your configuration after making changes using the copy running-config startup-config command. This ensures that your changes are saved even after a reboot. This is a crucial step to avoid losing your configurations.

2. Configuring the Management Interface

Now that you have initial access, the next step is to configure the management interface. This will allow you to access the switch remotely via SSH or Telnet (though SSH is highly recommended for security reasons). The management interface is typically a VLAN interface, so you'll need to create a VLAN and assign an IP address to it.

First, enter global configuration mode:

nxos# configure terminal

Next, create a VLAN for management (e.g., VLAN 100):

nxos(config)# vlan 100
nxos(config-vlan)# name management

Now, create a VLAN interface and assign an IP address and subnet mask:

nxos(config)# interface vlan 100
nxos(config-if)# ip address <ip_address>/<subnet_mask>
nxos(config-if)# no shutdown

For example:

nxos(config)# interface vlan 100
nxos(config-if)# ip address 192.168.1.10/24
nxos(config-if)# no shutdown

Finally, set the gateway IP address:

nxos(config)# ip default gateway <gateway_ip>

For example:

nxos(config)# ip default gateway 192.168.1.1

Security Tip: Disable Telnet and use SSH instead. Telnet transmits data in clear text, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping. To enable SSH, use the following commands:

nxos(config)# feature ssh

3. Configuring Hostname and DNS

Setting a hostname and configuring DNS are important for identifying your switch and resolving domain names. To set the hostname, use the hostname command:

nxos(config)# hostname <hostname>

For example:

nxos(config)# hostname Nexus9000-Core

To configure DNS, use the ip domain name and ip name-server commands:

nxos(config)# ip domain name <domain_name>
nxos(config)# ip name-server <dns_server_ip>

For example:

nxos(config)# ip domain name example.com
nxos(config)# ip name-server 8.8.8.8

You can configure multiple DNS servers if needed.

4. Configuring NTP

Network Time Protocol (NTP) is essential for synchronizing the switch's clock with a reliable time source. This is important for accurate logging and troubleshooting. To configure NTP, use the ntp server command:

nxos(config)# ntp server <ntp_server_ip>

For example:

nxos(config)# ntp server 0.pool.ntp.org

You can configure multiple NTP servers for redundancy. It's also a good idea to set the timezone:

nxos(config)# clock timezone <timezone> <offset>

For example, for Eastern Standard Time:

nxos(config)# clock timezone EST -5

5. Basic Interface Configuration

Now that you have basic network settings configured, you can start configuring the switch's interfaces. This involves assigning interfaces to VLANs and configuring their speed and duplex settings.

First, enter interface configuration mode for the interface you want to configure:

nxos(config)# interface ethernet <slot>/<port>

For example:

nxos(config)# interface ethernet 1/1

To assign the interface to a VLAN, use the switchport mode and switchport access vlan commands:

nxos(config-if)# switchport mode access
nxos(config-if)# switchport access vlan <vlan_id>

For example:

nxos(config-if)# switchport mode access
nxos(config-if)# switchport access vlan 10

To configure the interface speed and duplex settings, use the speed and duplex commands. However, most modern devices support auto-negotiation, so it's generally best to leave these settings at their default values.

nxos(config-if)# speed auto
nxos(config-if)# duplex auto

Finally, bring the interface up using the no shutdown command:

nxos(config-if)# no shutdown

Important Note: For trunk ports, use switchport mode trunk and switchport trunk allowed vlan to specify which VLANs are allowed on the trunk. Remember to enable the interface with no shutdown.

6. Saving the Configuration

After making all your changes, it's crucial to save the configuration to the startup configuration. This ensures that your changes are saved even after a reboot. Use the copy running-config startup-config command:

nxos# copy running-config startup-config

The switch will prompt you to confirm the destination filename. Press Enter to accept the default filename (startup-config).

7. Verification

After completing the initial configuration, it's important to verify that everything is working as expected. Here are some useful commands for verification:

• show version: Displays the switch's software version and hardware information.
• show running-config: Displays the current running configuration.
• show interface brief: Displays a brief summary of the switch's interfaces.
• show ip interface brief: Displays a brief summary of the switch's IP interfaces.
• ping <ip_address>: Tests connectivity to a specific IP address.
• show ntp status: Displays the status of the NTP configuration.

For example:

nxos# show version

Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Software
TAC: Engineering:
Copyright (c) 2002-2021 by Cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Wed 22/Sep/21 14:00 by rel

Software
  BIOS: version v08.41
  NXOS: version 9.3(3)
  ... (output truncated) ...

nxos# show interface brief

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface           VLAN    Type Mode   Status  Speed   Protocol
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eth1/1              10      eth  access up      1000    up
Eth1/2              1       eth  access down    auto    down
Vlan100             100     --   routed up      unknown up

8. Next Steps

Congratulations! You've completed the initial configuration of your Nexus 9000 switch. Now you can move on to more advanced configurations, such as:

• Configuring routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP).
• Setting up VLANs and trunking.
• Configuring security features (e.g., access control lists).
• Implementing quality of service (QoS).
• Configuring virtual port channels (vPC).

Remember to consult the Cisco Nexus 9000 documentation for detailed information on these and other features. Keep experimenting and learning, and you'll become a Nexus 9000 pro in no time! This initial setup is the foundation for a well-functioning network. Getting it right from the start can save you headaches down the road. Don't rush through the process; take your time and double-check your configurations. Happy networking, guys!