Linking Through A Gateway; How To Configure A Link Through A Gateway - HP A7533A - Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch Base Administrator's Manual

Linking through a gateway

A gateway merges SANs into a single fabric by establishing point-to-point E_Port connectivity between two
Fibre Channel switches that are separated by a network with a protocol such as IP or SONET.
Except for link initialization, gateways are transparent to switches; the gateway simply provides E_Port
connectivity from one switch to another.
By default, switch ports initialize links using the Exchange Link Parameters (ELP) mode 1. However,
gateways expect initialization with ELP mode 2, also referred to as ISL R_RDY mode. Therefore, to enable
two switches to link through a gateway, the ports on both switches must be set for ELP mode 2.
Any number of E_Ports in a fabric can be configured for gateway links, provided the following rules
are followed:
• All switches in the fabric must be upgraded to Fabric OS 3.1.0 (or later) or 4.1.0 (or later).
• To prevent fabric segmentation, make sure that all switches in the fabric are using the core PID format,
as described in
• When determining switch count maximums, include the switches connected to both sides of
the gateway.
• Extended links (those created using the Extended Fabrics licensed feature) and the security features in
Secure Fabric OS are not supported through gateway links.

How to configure a link through a gateway

1. If you are not sure that the PID format is consistent across the entire fabric, enter the configShow
command on all switches to check the PID setting. If necessary, change the PID format on any
nonconforming switches, as described in
2. Connect to the switch on one end of the gateway and log in as admin.
3. Enter the portCfgIslMode command:
4/16 SAN Switch and 4/8 SAN Switch,
SAN Switch 2/8V, SAN Switch 2/16V,
SAN Switch 2/32, SAN Switch 4/32,
4/64 SAN Switch, 4/32B SAN Switch
and 400 MP Router
SAN Director 2/128 and 4/256 SAN
Director:
In the following example, slot 2, port 3 is enabled for a gateway link:
switch:admin> portcfgislmode 2/3, 1
Committing configuration...done.
ISL R_RDY Mode is enabled for port 3. Please make sure the PID
formats are consistent across the entire fabric.
switch:admin>
4. Repeat the steps for any additional ports that will be connected to the gateway.
5. Repeat the procedure on the switch at the other end of the gateway.
Refer to the Fabric OS Command Reference Manual for more information about the
portCfgIslMode command.
"How to configure a link through a gateway" described next.
"Configuring the PID format" on page 423.
port mode
portCfgIslMode
port
Specify a number. Valid values for port
number vary depending on the switch type. The
mode operand is required: specify 1 to enable
ISL R_RDY mode (gateway link) or specify 0 to
disable it.
slot
portCfgIslMode
slot port
Specify a / number pair. Valid values for
slot and port number vary depending on the
switch type. The mode operand is required:
specify 1 to enable ISL R_RDY mode (gateway
link) or specify 0 to disable it.
Fabric OS 5.3.0 administrator guide
port mode
/ ,
49