Backbone-To-Edge Routing With Virtual Fabrics; Ex_Ports In A Base Switch; Logical Representation Of Ex_Ports In A Base Switch - HP A7533A - Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch Base Administrator's Manual

IFL
E
F
EX
Figure 68

EX_Ports in a base switch

Figure 69 shows a logical representation of the physical chassis and devices in
Figure 69, Fabric 128 and Fabric 15 are edge fabrics connected to a backbone fabric. Fabric 1 is not
connected to the backbone, so the device in Fabric 1 cannot communicate with any of the devices in the
other fabrics.
Edge fabric
Fabric 128
SW5
Backbone fabric
Fabric 8
Figure 69

Logical representation of EX_Ports in a base switch

Backbone-to-edge routing with Virtual Fabrics

Since the base switch does not allow F_Ports, you cannot have devices connected to the base switch.
Even though F_Ports are not allowed in the base switch, they are allowed in an FC router in legacy mode
(Fabric OS 6.1.x or earlier, or Fabric OS 6.2.0 or later with Virtual Fabrics disabled). If you connect an FC
router in legacy mode to the base switch, backbone-to-edge routing is supported on that FC router.
In Figure 68, no devices can be connected to the backbone fabric (Fabric 8) because base switches
cannot have F_Ports.
router can have devices connected to it, and so you can have backbone-to-edge routing through this FC
router. In this figure, Host A in the backbone fabric can communicate with device B in the edge fabric with
FID 20; Host A cannot communicate with device C, however, because the base switches do not support
backbone-to-edge routing.
402 Using the FC-FC routing service
Physical chassis 1
E
Logical switch 1
(Default logical switch)
Fabric ID 128
Logical ISL
Logical switch 2
Fabric ID 1
Allows XISL use
E
Logical switch 3
Fabric ID 15
E
EX
Logical switch 4
(Base switch)
Fabric ID 8
E
SW3
E
SW1
E
EX
EX
SW4
SW5
Figure 70 shows an FC router in legacy mode connected to a base switch. This FC
Physical chassis 2
ISL
E
Logical switch 5
(Default logical switch)
Fabric ID 128
Logical switch 6
Fabric ID 1
Allows XISL use
ISL
E
Logical switch 7
Fabric ID 15
IFL
Logical switch 8
(Base switch)
E Fabric ID 8
XISL
Edge fabric
Fabric 15
SW7
Fabric 1
F
F
Figure 68. As shown in
SW2
SW6