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Chapter 4: InfiniBand Operations -- The ONYX CLI and Fabric Management · Part 2 of 9

The ONYX CLI -- getting oriented

Physical access and login

You reach an ONYX switch the same way you reach any switch: console cable or SSH. Console is always your first option during bring-up or when SSH is not working.

Console settings: 115200 baud  -  8N1  -  No hardware flow control
Connector: Micro-USB (front panel) on QM9700, RJ45 on Q3400
Illustration comparing QM9700 front-panel micro-USB console access with Q3400 RJ45 serial console access.

Figure: Console-access schematic for the two ONYX platforms named in this chapter. QM9700 exposes front-panel micro-USB console access, while Q3400 uses an RJ45 serial console port.

The ONYX login sequence:

ONYX - Mellanox Networks
switch login: admin
Password: admin

switch >

You land in user mode. For any diagnostic command you need to enter privileged mode:

switch > enable
switch #

For configuration (rare in IB operations):

switch # configure terminal
switch (config) #

The first commands after login:

switch # show version
Product name:      ONYX
Product release:   3.11.2012
Build ID:          #1-dev
Build date:        2024-08-12 08:15:54
Target arch:       x86_64
Built by:          jenkins@...

switch uptime:     17 days, 4:23:11
System memory:     8192 MB total, 5847 MB free
Swap:              0 MB total, 0 MB free
Management IP:     10.0.1.1/24

Slot 1:
  Product name:    QM9700
  Part number:     MQM9700-NS2F
  Revision:        A9
  Serial number:   MT2327X12345
  Firmware version: fw-QM9700-rel-24_03_0216-...

Product release: 3.11.2012 -- The ONYX software version. Check NVIDIA's release notes for this version for known bugs affecting your deployment.

switch uptime: 17 days -- If uptime is unexpectedly low, the switch rebooted recently -- check the event log for why.

Firmware version: fw-QM9700-rel-24_03_0216 -- The ASIC firmware version. This is different from the ONYX OS version. Both matter for bug fixes and compatibility.

ONYX CLI mode structure

switch # _enable mode

Privileged mode. Full access to all show commands, clear commands, and diagnostic tools. This is where you spend 95% of your time on ONYX.

How to enter
Type: enable (from user mode)
How to exit
Type: disable (back to user) or exit
Example commands in this mode
show interfaces ib status
show ib counters
show ib sm
show version
clear counters ib 1/3
show interface ib 1/1