HP StorageWorks 1606 Brocade Fabric OS Administrator's Guide v6.3.0 (53-100133 - Page 503

Integrated Routing, Fibre Channel routing concepts

Page 503 highlights

Integrated Routing 21 Integrated Routing Integrated Routing is a licensed feature that allows 8-Gbps FC ports to be configured as EX_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: • Brocade DCX and DCX-4S (FC8-16, FC8-32, FC8-48, and FX8-24 blades) • Brocade 5100 switch • Brocade 5300 switch • Brocade 7800 Extension Switch 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: • Fibre Channel router (FC router) A switch running the FC-FC routing service. See "Supported platforms for Fibre Channel routing" on page 460 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. • Edge fabric An edge fabric is a Fibre Channel fabric with targets and initiators connected through the supported platforms by using an EX_Port or VEX_Port. • Backbone fabric A backbone fabric is an intermediate network that connects one or more edge fabrics. In a SAN, the backbone fabric consists of at least one FC router and possibly a number of Fabric OS-based Fibre Channel switches (see Figure 72 on page 464). Fabric OS Administrator's Guide 461 53-1001336-01

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Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide
461
53-1001336-01
Integrated Routing
21
Integrated Routing
Integrated Routing is a licensed feature that allows 8-Gbps FC ports to be configured as EX_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:
Brocade DCX and DCX-4S (FC8-16, FC8-32, FC8-48, and FX8-24 blades)
Brocade 5100 switch
Brocade 5300 switch
Brocade 7800 Extension Switch
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:
Fibre Channel router (FC router)
A switch running the FC-FC routing service. See
“Supported platforms for Fibre Channel
routing”
on page 460 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.
Edge fabric
An edge fabric is a Fibre Channel fabric with targets and initiators connected through the
supported platforms by using an EX_Port or VEX_Port.
Backbone fabric
A backbone fabric is an intermediate network that connects one or more edge fabrics. In a
SAN, the backbone fabric consists of at least one FC router and possibly a number of
Fabric OS-based Fibre Channel switches (see
Figure 72
on page 464).