topic RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800 in ExtremeSwitching (EXOS/Switch Engine)

Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Loic_Pasquiet — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Hi everybody,

We have some problems about our new BD88K boot time ≈ 40 min

We have 29 policys (1000 ACLs) on production, however with the same configuration on our previous BD10K, the boot time lasted 5 min.

We have the same problem with these versions:
Primary ver: 16.1.2.14
Secondary ver: 15.7.2.9

During the boot, a show slot command display "ACL sync".

Furthermore, a show slot give:

Slots Type Configured State Ports Flags-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slot-1 8900-40G6X-xm 8900-40G6X-xm Operational 24 MB
Slot-2 8900-10G24X-c 8900-10G24X-c Operational 24 MB
Slot-3 8900-10G24X-c 8900-10G24X-c Operational 24 MB
Slot-4 Empty 0
Slot-5 Empty 0
Slot-6 Empty 0
Slot-7 G48Tc G48Tc Operational 48 MB
Slot-8 Empty 0
Slot-9 8900-G48X-xl 8900-G48X-xl Operational 48 MB
Slot-10 8900-G48X-xl 8900-G48X-xl Operational 48 MB
MSM-A 8900-MSM128 Operational 0
MSM-B 8900-MSM128 Operational 0

Do you have any information about this problem?

Best Regards,

Network Engineer

RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Esa_Kuusisto — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 02:53:00 GMT

Are you using ACLs bind to port or VLAN. In VLAN it takes more time. Then if you are using counters and counters are per port installation takes long time.

XL module install is much quicker that non XL (I have 8900 with XL modules and 24X + 96p. Install time non XL and XL is about three to four times longer). I made feature request long time ago that switch should first boot up, start forwarding traffic and then start applying ACLs.

Solution for now is now to uninstall ACLs, reboot and then install ACLs.

This is not a problem. It works as designed 

RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Chad_Smith1 — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 00:52:00 GMT

Loic Pasquiet,

As Esa has stated, large policy files can increase the boot time of the 8800. Rules that have counters can also increase the boot time. Uninstalling and re-installing the ACLs is a potential workaround.

If you would like to open up a support case with the GTAC, we could investigate potential ways to improve the boot time on your BlackDiamond.

RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Stephane_Grosj1 — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:22:00 GMT

Missed that thread 🙂

for further reference, we improved the boot time down to 6mn or so creating a single .pol instead of multiple separated files, and applied as any. We suspected TCAM shifting happening, explaining the long boot time.

Some other optimization have been made in the rules, as well.

RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Drew_C — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:22:00 GMT

Nice work! Thanks for coming back with an update 🙂

RE: Huge Boot Time on BD8800

Loic_Pasquiet — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 00:42:00 GMT

Yes, we now understand better the functioning of the new hardware. I regret that your partner has missed it. This forced us to completely rewrite our policy!
We are thus 300 lines instead of thousands. Remain positive. After losing a week, the migration could resume.