Integrated Routing; Fibre Channel Routing Concepts - Brocade Communications Systems 1606 Administrator's Manual

NOTE
In configurations with two backbones connected to the same edge fabric, routing is not supported
between edge fabrics that are not directly attached to the same backbone. Routing over multiple
backbones is a multi-hop topology and is not allowed.

Integrated Routing

Integrated Routing is a licensed feature that allows 8-Gbps FC ports to be configured as EX_Ports
(or VEX_Ports) supporting Fibre Channel routing. This license eliminates the need to add an
FR4-18i blade to the Brocade DCX and DCX-4S, or to use the Brocade 7500 for FC-FC routing
purposes. Using 8-Gbps ports for Fibre Channel routing provides double the bandwidth for each
FCR connection (when connected to another 8-Gbps-capable port).
You need an Integrated Routing license for the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
You do not need a license for EX_Ports on the Brocade 7500 Extension Switch or FR4-18i blade.
Enabling the Integrated Routing license and capability does not require a switch reboot.
For the Brocade DCX and DCX-4S, if you do not have an Integrated Routing license, you cannot use
EX_Ports on the 8-Gbps port blades; you can, however, use EX_Ports on the FR4-18i blade without
a license.
NOTE
You cannot use EX_Ports on the FR4-18i blade and Integrated Routing in the same chassis.
Integrated Routing is not supported on 8-Gbps blades in the Brocade 48000.

Fibre Channel routing concepts

Fibre Channel routing introduces the following concepts:
•
•
Fabric OS Administrator's Guide
53-1001763-01
Brocade DCX and DCX-4S (FC8-16, FC8-32, FC8-48, FC8-64, FS8-18, and FX8-24 blades)
Brocade 5100 switch
Brocade 5300 switch
Brocade VA-40FC switch
Brocade 7800 Extension Switch
Brocade Encryption Switch
Fibre Channel router (FC router)
A switch running the FC-FC routing service. See
routing" on page 456 for a list of platforms that can be FC routers.
EX_Port, VEX_Port
An EX_Port and VEX_Port function similarly to an E_Port and VE_Port respectively, but
terminate at the switch and do not propagate fabric services or routing topology information
from one edge fabric to another. See the Fibre Channel over IP Administrator's Guide for
details about VE_Ports.

Integrated Routing

"Supported platforms for Fibre Channel
21
457