Dell Brocade G620 Brocade 8.0.1 Fabric OS Administratiors Guide - Page 497

FC-FC routing topologies, Phantom domains, front domain

Page 497 highlights

Using FC-FC Routing to Connect Fabrics FC-FC routing topologies The FC-FC routing service provides two types of routing: ∙ Edge-to-edge : Occurs when devices in one edge fabric communicate with devices in another edge fabric through one or more FC routers. ∙ Backbone-to-edge : Occurs when devices in the FC routers communicate with devices in an edge fabric--known as a backbone fabric --through E_Ports. A backbone fabric can be used as a transport fabric that interconnects edge fabrics. FC routers also enable hosts and targets in edge fabrics to communicate with devices in the backbone fabric, known as backbone-to-edge routing . From the perspective of the edge fabric, the backbone fabric is like any other edge fabric. For the edge fabric and backbone fabric devices to communicate, the shared devices must be presented to each other's native fabric. To do so, at least one translate phantom domain is created in the backbone fabric. This translate phantom domain represents the entire edge fabric. The shared physical devices in the edge have corresponding proxy devices on the translate phantom domain. Each edge fabric has one and only one translate phantom domain to the backbone fabric. The backbone fabric device communicates with the proxy devices whenever it needs to contact the shared physical devices in the edge. The FC-FC routing service receives the frames from the backbone switches destined to the proxy devices, and redirects the frames to the actual physical devices. When connected to edge fabrics, the translate phantom domain can never be the principal switch of the backbone fabric. Front domains are not created, only translate phantom domains are created in the backbone fabric. Devices are exported from the backbone fabric to one or more edge fabrics using LSANs. Refer to LSAN zone configuration on page 519 for more information. Phantom domains A phantom domain is a domain created by the Fibre Channel router. The FC router creates two types of phantom domains: front phantom domains and translate phantom domains. A front phantom domain, or front domain, is a domain that is projected from the FC router to the edge fabric. There is one front phantom domain from each FC router to an edge fabric, regardless of the number of EX_Ports connected from that router to the edge fabric. Another FC router connected to the same edge fabric projects a different front phantom domain. A translate phantom domain, also referred to as translate domain or xlate domain, is a router virtual domain that represents an entire fabric. The EX_Ports present xlate domains in edge fabrics as being topologically behind the front domains; if the xlate domain is in a backbone fabric, then it is topologically present behind the FC router because there is no front domain in a backbone fabric. If an FC router is attached to an edge fabric using an EX_Port, it creates xlate domains in the fabric corresponding to the imported edge fabrics with active LSANs defined. If you import devices into the backbone fabric, then an xlate domain is created in the backbone device in addition to the one in the edge fabric. Figure 79 shows a sample physical topology. This figure shows four FC routers in a backbone fabric and four edge fabrics connected to the FC routers. Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1 53-1004111-02 497

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FC-FC routing topologies
The FC-FC routing service provides two types of routing:
Edge-to-edge
: Occurs when devices in one edge fabric communicate with devices in another edge fabric through one or more
FC routers.
Backbone-to-edge
: Occurs when devices in the FC routers communicate with devices in an edge fabric--known as a
backbone fabric
--through E_Ports.
A backbone fabric can be used as a transport fabric that interconnects edge fabrics. FC routers also enable hosts and targets in edge
fabrics to communicate with devices in the backbone fabric, known as
backbone-to-edge routing
. From the perspective of the edge
fabric, the backbone fabric is like any other edge fabric. For the edge fabric and backbone fabric devices to communicate, the shared
devices must be presented to each other's native fabric.
To do so, at least one translate phantom domain is created in the backbone fabric. This translate phantom domain represents the entire
edge fabric. The shared physical devices in the edge have corresponding proxy devices on the translate phantom domain.
Each edge fabric has one and only one translate phantom domain to the backbone fabric. The backbone fabric device communicates
with the proxy devices whenever it needs to contact the shared physical devices in the edge. The FC-FC routing service receives the
frames from the backbone switches destined to the proxy devices, and redirects the frames to the actual physical devices. When
connected to edge fabrics, the translate phantom domain can never be the principal switch of the backbone fabric. Front domains are
not created, only translate phantom domains are created in the backbone fabric.
Devices are exported from the backbone fabric to one or more edge fabrics using LSANs. Refer to
LSAN zone configuration
on page
519 for more information.
Phantom domains
A phantom domain is a domain created by the Fibre Channel router. The FC router creates two types of phantom domains: front
phantom domains and translate phantom domains.
A
front phantom domain
, or
front domain
, is a domain that is projected from the FC router to the edge fabric. There is one front
phantom domain from each FC router to an edge fabric, regardless of the number of EX_Ports connected from that router to the edge
fabric. Another FC router connected to the same edge fabric projects a different front phantom domain.
A
translate phantom domain
, also referred to as
translate domain
or
xlate domain
, is a router virtual domain that represents an entire
fabric. The EX_Ports present xlate domains in edge fabrics as being topologically behind the front domains; if the xlate domain is in a
backbone fabric, then it is topologically present behind the FC router because there is no front domain in a backbone fabric.
If an FC router is attached to an edge fabric using an EX_Port, it creates xlate domains in the fabric corresponding to the imported edge
fabrics with active LSANs defined. If you import devices into the backbone fabric, then an xlate domain is created in the backbone device
in addition to the one in the edge fabric.
Figure 79
shows a sample physical topology. This figure shows four FC routers in a backbone fabric and four edge fabrics connected to
the FC routers.
Using FC-FC Routing to Connect Fabrics
Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1
53-1004111-02
497