Planning for Cisco
IBM Spectrum Control uses Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) data sources to manage Cisco switches and fabrics.
Supported Cisco models
IBM Spectrum
Control supports a number of different
Cisco switch models and firmware versions. For information about the supported versions, see the
IBM Spectrum Control 5.3.x - Switches - Supported Products Matrix at 
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-spectrum-control-53x-switches.
Consider the following information when you are using Cisco switches with IBM Spectrum Control:
- The Cisco Nexus 5000 switch is supported in toleration mode only. IBM Spectrum Control does not support the Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) connectivity functions for the Cisco Nexus 5000 switch.
- The Fibre Channel (FC) or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocols must be enabled on the switch. Some switches, such as the Cisco Nexus 5000 series, require you to enable these protocols. Otherwise, IBM Spectrum Control will not recognize the switch when you try to add it using the Add Switches and Fabrics for Monitoring dialog. For instructions on how to configure Cisco switches for FCoE enablement, go to the Cisco product website at http://www.cisco.com and click Support.
- IBM Spectrum Control also does not support domain-port zoning for Cisco Nexus switches. IBM Spectrum Control displays the FCoE and FC ports in the switch port lists.
- The password that IBM Spectrum Control uses to connect to a Cisco switch can't contain these special characters: < >.
Supported fabric management functions
The following fabric management functions are supported by SNMP data sources, also referred to as
SNMP agents:
- Collecting information about Cisco switches and switch ports.
- Collecting information about topology connectivity.
- Collecting information about zoning information and zone control.
- Monitoring performance.
- Generating alerts.