Cisco MDS 9000 series Configuration Manual page 27

Chapter 2 Configuring FCIP
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
Figure 2-2
FC
See the
FCIP Links
FCIP links consist of one or more TCP connections between two FCIP link endpoints. Each link carries
encapsulated Fibre Channel frames.
When the FCIP link comes up, the VE ports at both ends of the FCIP link create a virtual Fibre Channel
(E)ISL and initiate the E port protocol to bring up the (E)ISL.
By default, the FCIP feature on any Cisco MDS 9000 Family switch creates two TCP connections for
each FCIP link:
•
•
To enable FCIP on the IPS module or MPS-14/2 module, an FCIP profile and FCIP interface (interface
FCIP) must be configured.
The FCIP link is established between two peers, the VE port initialization behavior is identical to a
normal E port. This behavior is independent of the link being FCIP or pure Fibre Channel, and is based
on the E port discovery process (ELP, ESC).
Once the FCIP link is established, the VE port behavior is identical to E port behavior for all inter-switch
communication (including domain management, zones, and VSANs). At the Fibre Channel layer, all VE
and E port operations are identical.
OL-19525-01,Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.2(1)
FCIP Links and Virtual ISLs
Switch A
FC
F
F
E
FC
Switch B
VE
FC
E
F
FC
"Configuring E Ports" section on page 2-22
One connection is used for data frames.
The other connection is used only for Fibre Channel control frames, that is, switch-to-switch
protocol frames (all Class F). This arrangement provides low latency for all control frames.
IP
FCIP link
GE
Virtual ISL
for more information.
Cisco MDS 9000 Family NX-OS IP Services Configuration Guide
About FCIP
Switch C
FC
F
GE
VE
F
FC
2-3