You can add Brocade switches as a data source in VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

Prerequisites

You must verify the following information:

  • The data source and its version is supported in VMware Aria Operations for Networks. For more information, see Supported Products and Versions.
  • The data source follows VMware Ports and Protocols supported in VMware Aria Operations for Networks. For more information, see VMware Ports and Protocols.

You must have the following permissions:

  • Read-only user: VMware Aria Operations for Networks requires read-only third-party device credentials (passwords) to access the SSH data. This user needs to have the Network Operator role. These passwords are added when configuring the third-party data provider in VMware Aria Operations for Networks user interface.
  • Read-only SNMP user: VMware Aria Operations for Networks uses SNMP to collect metrics information from third-party devices (switches, routers, firewalls, and so on). The third-party devices must have SNMP enabled and be accessible from VMware Aria Operations for Networks.

Procedure

  1. From the left navigation pane, go to Settings > Accounts and Data Sources.
  2. Click Add Source.
  3. Under Routers & Switches, click the Brocade switch that you want to add and provide the required information.
    Option Action
    Collector VM Select a collector VM from the drop-down menu.
    IP Address/FQDN Enter the IP address or the FQDN details.
    Username Enter the user name.
    Password Enter the password.
    Note: To know about the supported products and versions, see Supported Products and Versions.
  4. Click Validate.
  5. To enable a richer data collection, click Use SNMP (recommended for richer data collection) check box, and do the following:
    1. From the SNMP Version drop-down menu, select an SNMP version. Depending on which version of SNMP you have selected, do the following:
      Option Action
      2c In the Community String text box, enter a community string.
      3
      1. Enter Username, Context Name.
      2. From the Authentication Type drop-down, select an authentication type and enter the Authentication Password.
      3. From the Privacy Type drop-down, select a privacy type and enter the Privacy Password.
  6. Define the polling interval for the configuration data collection. You can set the polling interval from 10 minutes to 7 days.
    • Preset - Select the interval time from the predefined time set.
    • Custom Interval - Set a value and select Minutes, Hours, and Days.
    • Fixed Schedule - Select the days and set the time to schedule the interval.
  7. (Optional) In the Nickname text box, enter a nickname.
  8. (Optional) In the Notes text box, add a note if necessary.
  9. Click Submit.

What to do next

VMware Aria Operations for Networks supports the following features of Brocade switches:
  • Brocade MLX
    • Neighbor Discovery (LLDP)
    • Layer 2 Switching
    • VLAN
    • Layer 3 Routing (IPv4)
    • VRF (Virtual routing and forwarding)
    • Access Control List (in network assurance and verification)
  • Brocade VDX 6740 and VDX 6940
    • Neighbor Discovery (LLDP)
    • Layer 2 Switching
    • VLAN
    • Layer 3 Routing (IPv4)
    • VRF
    • Redundancy (VRRP)