Terminology For Virtual Fabrics; Virtual Fabrics Requirements - Brocade Communications Systems StoreFabric SN6500B User Manual

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Virtual Fabrics requirements

Terminology for Virtual Fabrics

Table 62
TABLE 62
Term
Physical chassis
Logical switch
Default logical switch
Base switch
Fabric ID (FID)
Logical fabric
Base fabric
Extended ISL (XISL)
Virtual Fabrics requirements
To configure Virtual Fabrics, you must have at least one Virtual Fabrics-enabled physical chassis
running Fabric OS 6.2.0 or later in your SAN. Use one of the following options to discover a Virtual
Fabrics-enabled physical chassis on the Management application topology:
•
512
lists definitions of Virtual Fabrics terms.
Virtual Fabrics terms
Definition
The physical switch or chassis from which you create logical switches and fabrics.
A collection of ports that act as a single Fibre Channel (FC) switch. When Virtual Fabrics
is enabled on the chassis, there is always at least one logical switch: the default logical
switch. You must assign each logical switch (default or general) in the same chassis to
a different logical fabric. The logical switch supports all E_Ports and F_Ports. Note that
EX_Ports are only allowed on the base switch.
A logical switch that is created automatically when the Virtual Fabrics feature is
enabled in a physical chassis. Initially, all ports in a chassis belong to the default logical
switch. The default logical switch always exists as long as Virtual Fabrics is enabled.
You cannot delete the default logical switch. The default logical switch supports all
E_Ports and F_Ports.
A special logical switch used to communicate among different logical switches. The
legacy EX_Port is connected to the base logical switch. Inter-Switch Links (ISLs)
connected to the base switch are used to communicate among different fabrics. The
base switch supports E_Ports and EX_Ports.
An identifier you assign to a logical switch (default or general) or a base switch to
designate to which logical or base fabric it belongs.
A fabric with at least one logical switch.
A fabric formed from base switches that have the same FID. The base fabric provides
the physical connectivity across multiple segments of a fabric over which logical
switches in the fabric can establish logical connectivity.
An ISL physically connected between two base switches that carries traffic for multiple
logical fabrics. By default, logical switches are configured to not use XISLs. XISL use is
not supported in the following cases:
•
Logical switches in an edge fabric connected to an FC router.
•
A logical switch in InteropMode 2 or InteropMode 3.
•
The logical switch has VE_Ports and is running Fabric OS 6.4.x or earlier.
•
The logical switch has lossless DLS and is running Fabric OS 7.0.x or earlier. For
switches running Fabric OS 7.1.0 or later, XISL use is supported with lossless DLS.
•
FICON logical fabrics, for switches running Fabric OS 7.0.x or earlier.
For switches running Fabric OS 7.1.0 or later, XISL use is supported when FMS
mode is enabled.
Discover a Virtual Fabrics-capable seed physical chassis running Fabric OS 6.2.0 or later.
Virtual Fabrics is disabled by default. This physical chassis displays as a legacy switch. Once
discovered, you must enable Virtual Fabrics.
Brocade Network Advisor SAN User Manual
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