Octal Port Renumber to Four Interfaces

For an octal port such as a QSFPDD or OSFP, this feature renumbers the ports on a system to have 4 configurable interfaces instead of eight. The original octal would have had eight interfaces named x/1 to x/8 where x is the front panel port number.

The four interfaces created by this feature are named x/1 to x/4 instead and each interface has two transceiver lanes attached to it. Thus each interface can be configured to two-lane, four-lane or eight-lanes speeds as appropriate. However, the interfaces are restricted from any single-lane speeds and are not capable of a full breakout.

The entire chassis must be renumbered. This feature is not supported on a per-line card or per-port basis. Any cards in the same chassis that do not support this feature are unaffected. For affected line cards, both the configurable speeds and the default speeds of all interfaces are affected.

Supported Speeds

Table 1. Supported Speeds on Octal Ports
Interface Name With Feature Interface Name Without Feature Supported Speeds with Feature Default Speed
Ethernetx/1 Ethernetx/1 400G-8, 200G-4, 100G-2, 100G-4 400G-8
Nonexistent Ethernetx/2 N/A N/A
Ethernetx/2 Ethernetx/3 100G-2 100G-2
Nonexistent Ethernetx/5 N/A N/A
Ethernetx/3 Ethernetx/5 200G-4, 100G-2, 100G-4 100G-2
Nonexistent Ethernetx/6 N/A N/A
Ethernetx/4 Ethernetx/7 100G-2 100G-2
Nonexistent Ethernetx/8 N/A N/A

Configuring Octal Port Renumber to 4 Interfaces

In order to configure a chassis to octal port renumbering with four interfaces, a boot command is used.

The boot command is different from a standard CLI command since it takes effect very early in the boot process but can be configured in the same way. Therefore it requires a reboot after the CLI command in order to take effect.

Since the ports will be renumbered for all cards that support the feature, the current configuration of the switch may no longer make sense after the reboot. Please ensure all interface configurations reflect the new naming scheme. The following items should be addressed prior to enabling or disabling the feature and performing a reboot:

  1. Change interface naming appropriately.
  2. Review interface speeds to ensure they are supported with the feature.
  3. Review change in interface defaults to ensure the feature’s defaults are desired.
  4. Review changes to SNMP OIDs for affected interfaces.
From the CLI configuration mode, use the following command to enable the feature:
switch(config)# boot port numbering octal interfaces 4

The command warns that the switch needs to be rebooted for the command to take effect. Reboot the box afterward.

From the CLI configuration mode, use the following command to disable the feature:
switch(config)# no boot port numbering octal interfaces 4

The command warns that the switch needs to be rebooted for the command to take effect. Reboot the box afterward.

Show Commands

To confirm the command has taken effect, expose inactive interfaces with the service interface inactive expose CLI command and confirm the affected linecards only have four interfaces for each front panel port.
switch#(config-if-Et16/1,16/3)# show interfaces et15/1-16/1 status
Port       Name   Status       Vlan     Duplex Speed  Type         Flags Encapsulation
Et15/1            connected    1        full   400G   400GBase-CR8
Et15/2            inactive     1        full   100G   Not Present
Et15/3            inactive     1        full   100G   Not Present
Et15/4            inactive     1        full   100G   Not Present
Et16/1            connected    1        full   400G   400GBase-CR8

Limitations

  • A config replace of the startup config does not affect the configuration of this feature.
  • Since the feature is stored in flash:boot-config, removing or overwriting the boot-config can affect the presence of the feature on the next reboot.

Commands

boot port numbering octal interfaces 4

The boot port numbering octal interfaces 4 command configures a chassis to octal port renumbering with four interfaces.

The no boot port numbering octal interfaces 4 command disable the boot port numbering octal interfaces 4 configuration from the running-config.

Command Mode

Global Configuration Mode

Command Syntax

boot port numbering octal interfaces 4

no boot port numbering octal interfaces 4

Example

To enable boot port numbering octal interfaces 4, use the following command:
switch(config)#boot port numbering octal interfaces 4