Dell PowerConnect Brocade M6505 Brocade 7.1.0 Access Gateway Administrator's G - Page 96

Access Gateway cascading, Access Gateway cascading considerations, Fabric

Page 96 highlights

4 Access Gateway cascading Access Gateway cascading Access Gateway cascading is an advanced configuration supported in Access Gateway mode. Access Gateway cascading allows you to further increase the ratio of hosts to fabric ports to beyond what a single switch in AG mode can support. Access Gateway cascading allows you to link two Access Gateway (AG) switches back to back. The AG switch that is directly connected to the fabric is referred to as the Core AG. In this document, the AG switch connected to the device is referred to as the Edge AG. Figure 16 illustrates Access Gateway cascading. . F_Port N_Port F_ Port Edge AG F_Port N_Port F_ Port F_Port N_Port Core AG F_ Port Fabric FIGURE 16 Access Gateway cascading AG cascading provides higher over-subscription because it allows you to consolidate the number of ports going to the main fabric. There is no license requirement to use this feature. Access Gateway cascading considerations Note the following configuration considerations when cascading Access Gateways: • Only one level of cascading is supported. Note that several Edge AGs can connect into a single Core AG to support an even higher consolidation ratio. • AG trunking between the Edge and Core AG switches is not supported. Trunking between the Core AG switch and the fabric is supported. • It is recommended that you enable Advanced Device Security (ADS) policy on all AG F_Ports that are directly connected to devices. • APC policy is not supported when cascading. • Loopbacks (Core AG N_Port to Edge AG F_Port) are not allowed. • The agshow command issued on the fabric will discover only the Core AG switches. If issued as agshow --name AG name, then the F_Ports of both the Core and Edge AG switches will be shown for the Core AG switch. 76 Access Gateway Administrator's Guide 53-1002743-01

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76
Access Gateway Administrator’s Guide
53-1002743-01
Access Gateway cascading
4
Access Gateway cascading
Access Gateway cascading is an advanced configuration supported in Access Gateway mode.
Access Gateway cascading allows you to further increase the ratio of hosts to fabric ports to beyond
what a single switch in AG mode can support.
Access Gateway cascading allows you to link two Access Gateway (AG) switches back to back. The
AG switch that is directly connected to the fabric is referred to as the Core AG. In this document, the
AG switch connected to the device is referred to as the Edge AG.
Figure 16
illustrates Access
Gateway cascading.
.
FIGURE 16
Access Gateway cascading
AG cascading provides higher over-subscription because it allows you to consolidate the number of
ports going to the main fabric. There is no license requirement to use this feature.
Access Gateway cascading considerations
Note the following configuration considerations when cascading Access Gateways:
Only one level of cascading is supported. Note that several Edge AGs can connect into a single
Core AG to support an even higher consolidation ratio.
AG trunking between the Edge and Core AG switches is not supported. Trunking between the
Core AG switch and the fabric is supported.
It is recommended that you enable Advanced Device Security (ADS) policy on all AG F_Ports
that are directly connected to devices.
APC policy is not supported when cascading.
Loopbacks (Core AG N_Port to Edge AG F_Port) are not allowed.
The
agshow
command issued on the fabric will discover only the Core AG switches. If issued as
agshow
--
name
AG name
, then the F_Ports of both the Core and Edge AG switches will be
shown for the Core AG switch.
F_Port
F_ Port
Edge
AG
N_Port
F_Port
F_ Port
N_Port
F_Port
N_Port
F_ Port
Fabric
Core
AG