On 08/18/2017 08:31 AM, Laurence Oberman wrote:
On Fri, Aug 18, 2017 at 8:37 AM, Thomas Glanzmann wrote:
I would like to create a setup that allows me to sniff FC traffic. Is it
possible with Linux or can someone recommend a setup that works. I want
to avoid buying a 120kUSD fabric analyzer.
There is no way to do this using adapters and generic F/C with Linux as the O/S.
The ability to enable debugging in the F/C drivers will expose some of
the internals but there is no way to sniff directly as far as I am
aware.
Many switches allow port level tracing facilities but inline sniffing
using Linux and generic hosts is not possible.
We have Finisars for inline tracing when we have to debug host and
fabric issues.
Software based FCOE using libfc and the Intel cards for example will
allow Wireshark tracing but that is encapsulated F/C in Ethernet
packets hence the Wireshark ability.
We have had some success using a (Teledyne) LeCroy analyzer. Its GUI
(SierraNet) runs only on a Windows host, but it is capable of exporting
a capture to Wireshark. This mostly shows just the ELS and FCP
transactions; to debug low-level link issues you'd have to work with the
original capture in SierraNet.
Like any other kind of analyzer the cost will be proportional to the
speed of the link you're trying to sniff and the amount of capture depth
you need. You may be able to save some money by getting secondhand
equipment and/or running the link at lower speed when you need to debug
something.
Regards,
Steven J. Magnani "I claim this network for MARS!
www.digidescorp.com Earthling, return my space modulator!"
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