Dell Brocade G620 Brocade 8.0.1 Fabric OS Administratiors Guide - Page 491

Supported configurations for FC-FC routing, Network OS connectivity limitations

Page 491 highlights

Using FC-FC Routing to Connect Fabrics Supported configurations for FC-FC routing FC-FC routing supports the following configurations: ∙ FC router connected to a Fabric OS nonsecured edge fabric. ∙ FC router connected to a Fabric OS secured edge fabric. ∙ FC router connected to a Brocade Network OS edge fabric (Refer to the Release Notes for the supported Network OS version). ∙ FC router interoperating with legacy FC routers (Brocade 7500 switch). In configurations with two backbone fabrics connected to the same edge fabric, routing is not supported between edge fabrics that are not directly attached to the same backbone fabric. Routing over multiple backbone fabrics is a multi-hop topology and is not allowed. VEX edge to VEX edge device sharing is not supported. NOTE When there are multiple EX or VEX ports between edge and backbone fabric they will be considered equal cost routes. FSPF does not apply from edge to edge. This needs to be taken into consideration when designing FCR fabrics. Network OS connectivity limitations You should be aware of the following configuration limitations for Network OS connectivity: ∙ All of the platforms listed in Supported platforms for FC-FC routing on page 490 support FC-FC routing to a Brocade Network OS fabric, except for the Brocade Encryption Switch. ∙ VEX_Ports do not support Network OS connectivity. Fibre Channel routing concepts Fibre Channel routing introduces the following concepts: ∙ Fibre Channel router (FC router) A switch running the FC-FC routing service. Refer to Supported platforms for FC-FC routing on page 490 for a list of platforms that can be FC routers. ∙ 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 (refer to Figure 77). ∙ Inter-fabric link (IFL) The link between an E_Port and EX_Port, or VE_Port and VEX_Port, is called an inter-fabric link (IFL). You can configure multiple IFLs from an FC router to an edge fabric. Figure 75 shows a metaSAN consisting of three edge fabrics connected through a Brocade DCX with inter-fabric links. Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1 53-1004111-02 491

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Supported configurations for FC-FC routing
FC-FC routing supports the following configurations:
FC router connected to a Fabric OS nonsecured edge fabric.
FC router connected to a Fabric OS secured edge fabric.
FC router connected to a Brocade Network OS edge fabric (Refer to the Release Notes for the supported Network OS version).
FC router interoperating with legacy FC routers (Brocade 7500 switch).
In configurations with two backbone fabrics connected to the same edge fabric, routing is not supported between edge fabrics that are
not directly attached to the same backbone fabric. Routing over multiple backbone fabrics is a multi-hop topology and is not allowed.
VEX edge to VEX edge device sharing is not supported.
NOTE
When there are multiple EX or VEX ports between edge and backbone fabric they will be considered equal cost routes. FSPF
does not apply from edge to edge. This needs to be taken into consideration when designing FCR fabrics.
Network OS connectivity limitations
You should be aware of the following configuration limitations for Network OS connectivity:
All of the platforms listed in
Supported platforms for FC-FC routing
on page 490 support FC-FC routing to a Brocade
Network OS fabric, except for the Brocade Encryption Switch.
VEX_Ports do not support Network OS connectivity.
Fibre Channel routing concepts
Fibre Channel routing introduces the following concepts:
Fibre Channel router (FC router)
A switch running the FC-FC routing service. Refer to
Supported platforms for FC-FC routing
on page 490 for a list of
platforms that can be FC routers.
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 (refer to
Figure 77
).
Inter-fabric link (IFL)
The link between an E_Port and EX_Port, or VE_Port and VEX_Port, is called an
inter-fabric link
(IFL). You can configure
multiple IFLs from an FC router to an edge fabric.
Figure 75
shows a metaSAN consisting of three edge fabrics connected through a Brocade DCX with inter-fabric links.
Using FC-FC Routing to Connect Fabrics
Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1
53-1004111-02
491