Switch Interoperability Matrix

This chapter lists the devices tested by Cisco Solution-Interoperability Engineering group (iLAB) for switch interoperability and lists firmware versions and software versions.

This matrix is created based on the configurations that Cisco has successfully tested. If some configuration is not listed in this document, it does not mean that they do not work. It only means that the configuration was not officially tested by Cisco. Cisco TAC supports only the Cisco qualified configurations. For more information, contact your local Cisco representative.

Switch Interoperability Matrix

The switch Interoperability test was performed per the Fibre Channel Methodologies for Interconnect (FC-MI) Technical Report version 1.92 which describes common methodologies for facilitating interoperability in a heterogeneous switch SAN environment.


Note

For information on switch interoperability that is not covered in this document, contact your local Cisco representative. When topology and functional requirements are made explicit, Cisco can propose adequate implementations to make a multivendor environment possible. Depending on your requirements, switch interoperability may or may not be required.


Note

If a major version is qualified, then all the qualified versions must also work for the switch. Also, a desired combination of a Cisco NX-OS software version and a Brocade switch may not appear in this section. In such scenarios, contact your local Cisco representative for more information.


Note

From FOS version 7.x, only interop mode 3 is supported.

Note

All Cisco data center switches including MDS, Nexus platforms, and UCS FI are interoperable among each other at all code levels released on Cisco website. If there is any feature specific code level recommendation for a release, we publish the information in Release Notes and product configuration guides.

Table 1. Switch Interoperability Matrix (InterOp Mode), MDS 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco MDS NX-OS Train Cisco MDS NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco MDS InterOp Mode
Brocade 5100 7.1.x and earlier releases 6.2.x 6.2(1), 6.2(3) 3
8510 7.x 7.3(0)D1(1)
5300 8.x 8.1(1), 8.2(1), 8.3(1), 8.4(1a)
6510
Table 2. Switch Interoperability Matrix (InterOp Mode), Nexus 5000, and Nexus 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco Nexus 5000 and 9000 OS Train Cisco NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Nexus 9000 InterOp Mode
Brocade 5300 and 6510 7.x and later releases 9.3.5 9.3.5 3
Table 3. Switch Interoperability Matrix (NPV Mode), MDS 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco MDS NX-OS Train Cisco MDS NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Configuration Mode
Brocade All switch models 7.x and later releases 6.2.x 6.2(1), 6.2(3) NPV
8.x 8.1(1), 8.2(1), 8.3(1), 8.4(1a), 8.4.(2f)

9.x

9.4(1), 9.4(1a)
Table 4. Switch Interoperability Matrix (NPIV Feature), MDS 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco MDS NX-OS Train Cisco MDS NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Switch Feature
Brocade (Access Gateway Mode) All switch models 7.x and later releases 6.2.x 6.2(1), 6.2(3) NPIV
8.x and 9.x 8.1(1), 8.2(1), 8.3(1), 8.4(1a), 9.2(1a), 9.4(1a), 9.4(2a)
Table 5. Switch Interoperability Matrix (NPV Mode), Nexus 5000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco Nexus 5000 OS Train Cisco NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Configuration Mode

Brocade

All switch models

7.x and later releases

7.x

7.0(1)N1(1)

7.1(1)N1(1)

7.3(2)N1(1)

7.0(7)N1(1)

7.1(4)N1(1)

NPV
Table 6. Switch Interoperability Matrix (NPV Mode), Nexus 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco Nexus 9000 OS Train Cisco NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Configuration Mode
Brocade All switch models 7.x and later releases 7.x and later releases 9.3.5 NPV

Note

Brocade switch in Access gateway (AG) Mode connected to Cisco MDS switch with NPIV enabled is certified, and vice versa. Brocade AG mode is equivalent to Cisco NPV mode and Brocade switch with NPIV feature enabled is equivalent to Cisco switch with NPIV feature enabled.

Table 7. Switch Interoperability Matrix (NPIV Feature), MDS 9000 Series
Switch Vendor Switch Models Firmware Version Cisco Nexus 9000 OS Train Cisco NX-OS Qualified Versions Cisco Switch Feature
HPE1 HPE Virtual Connects. 1.0.x and later releases 6.2.x 6.2(23), 6.2(25), 6.2(27), 6.2(29), 6.2(31) NPIV
7.x 7.0(1)N1(1) or later releases
1 For detailed information, see https://h20272.www2.hpe.com/spock/utility/document.aspx?docurl=Shared%20Documents/hw/switches/C-Series_FC_Switch_Connectivity_Stream.pdf.