About Interface Descriptions; Configuring The Interface Description; Specifying A Port Owner - Cisco MDS 9000 Series Configuration Manual

Chapter 2 Configuring Interfaces
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m
For internal ports on the Cisco Fabric Switch for HP c_Class BladeSystem and Cisco Fabric Switch for
IBM BladeCenter, a port speed of 1 Gbps is not supported. Auto-negotiation is supported between 2
Gbps and 4 Gbps only. Also, if the BladeCenter is a T chassis, then port speeds are fixed at 2 Gbps and
auto-negotiation is not enabled.
Autosensing
Autosensing speed is enabled on all 4-Gbps and 8-Gbps switching module interfaces by default. This
configuration enables the interfaces to operate at speeds of 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, or 4 Gbps on the 4-Gbps
switching modules, and 8 Gbps on the 8-Gbps switching modules. When autosensing is enabled for an
interface operating in dedicated rate mode, 4 Gbps of bandwidth is reserved, even if the port negotiates
at an operating speed of 1 Gbps or 2 Gbps.
To avoid wasting unused bandwidth on 48-port and 24-port 4-Gbps and 8-Gbps Fibre Channel switching
modules, you can specify that only 2 Gbps of required bandwidth be reserved, not the default of 4 Gbps
or 8 Gbps. This feature shares the unused bandwidth within the port group provided that it does not
exceed the rate limit configuration for the port. You can also use this feature for shared rate ports that
are configured for autosensing.
Tip When migrating a host that supports up to 2-Gbps traffic (that is, not 4 Gbps with autosensing
capabilities) to the 4-Gbps switching modules, use autosensing with a maximum bandwidth of 2 Gbps.
When migrating a host that supports up to 4-Gbps traffic (that is, not 8 Gbps with autosensing
capabilities) to the 8-Gbps switching modules, use autosensing with a maximum bandwidth of 4 Gbps.

About Interface Descriptions

Interface descriptions enable you to identify the traffic or the use for that interface. The interface
description can be any alphanumeric string.

Configuring the Interface Description

To configure a description for an interface, follow these steps:
Command
Step 1
switch# config t
Step 2
switch(config)# interface fc1/1
switch(config-if)#
Step 3
switch(config-if)# switchport description cisco-HBA2
switch(config-if)# no switchport description

Specifying a Port Owner

Using the port owner feature, you can specify the owner of a port and the purpose for which a port is
used so that the other administrators are informed.
OL-19445-02, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.2(x)
Purpose
Enters configuration mode.
Selects a Fibre Channel interface and
enters interface configuration submode.
Configures the description of the
interface. The string can be up to 80
characters long.
Clears the description of the interface.
Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS Interfaces Configuration Guide
Fibre Channel Interfaces
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