Understanding McData Switch/Director Port Types

Asset ID:	1-71-1017638.1
Update Date:	2017-11-01
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Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1017638.1 : Understanding McData Switch/Director Port Types

Related Items


McData Sphereon 4700 Fabric Switch

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PLA-Support>Sun Systems>DISK>Switch>SN-DK: McData Switch
 _Old GCS Categories>Sun Microsystems>Switches>McData

PreviouslyPublishedAs
228822

Description
This document details the available McData Fabric Switch and Director port types (router products are not included).

Steps to Follow
McData Fabric Switches and Directors can set the Fibre Channel ports to various Types or modes to affect the outcome of the link initialization.

For a link to operate correctly, the device and switch port need to be in similar operational modes.

switch to switch	E-port
storage/host device operating in fabric (public) loop mode	FL-port
storage/host device in fabric point-to-point mode	F-port

If the switch port is operating in a different mode to the device then communication will not work correctly. In addition, some storage and host devices prefer to work in certain modes. Most switch manufacturers (including McData) have mechanisms for changing the port mode to suit the attaching device. Each port can be configured on an individual basis to allow either a fixed or flexible port type.

When a link is established between a device and the switch, the eventual port type/operational mode will be affected by the configuration of that switch port and the communication received from that device.

For Fabric Switches (loop capable), the configuration options are as follows

Configured switch port type	Will change to	Use
E (expansion)	E	Another switch (ISL)
F (fabric)	F	Storage or host operating in fabric point-to-point (P-P) mode
G (global)	E or F	Automatic selection of mode for switch or fabric P-P device)
Fx (fabric negotiate)	F or FL	Automatic selection of mode for storage or host in P-P or fabric loop mode
Gx (global negotiate)	G or Fx	Automatic selection of mode for switch (ISL), storage/host in either P-P or fabric loop

For Directors (non-loop capable) , the configuration options are as follows

Configured switch port type	Will change to	Use
E (expansion)	E	Another switch (ISL)
F (fabric)	F	Storage or host operating in fabric point-to-point (P-P) mode
G (global)	E or F	Automatic selection of mode for switch or fabric P-P device)

Notes

Private loop mode is not supported on any McData FC switch or director.
Fabric (public) loop support is ONLY available on the Fabric switches (not directors). These include :- 4300, 4500, 4400, 4700
Fabric loop support (Fx/Gx) is NOT available on directors (6064, 6140, i10K)
There is no port configuration setting for FL as such. FL will be selected/used if required (providing either Fx/Gx has been configured for the port.)
The 4300 switch requires the 'Full Fabric PFE key' to allow E-port use.
For details of which functional port type is best suited to the storage/host, refer to the product documentation for that device.

Product
McDATA Sphereon 4700 Fabric Switch
McDATA Sphereon 4500 Fabric Switch
McDATA Sphereon 4400 Fabric Switch
McDATA Sphereon 4300 Fabric Switch
McDATA Intrepid 6140 Director
McDATA Intrepid 6064 Director
McDATA 2 GB 64-Port Switch

mcdata, switch, director, port, e-port, fl-port, f-port, fx-port, gx-port
Previously Published As
86075

Change History
Date: 2006-06-27
User Name: 97961
Action: Approved
Comment: - Tidied up formatting
Version: 3
Date: 2006-06-27
User Name: 97961
Action: Accept
Comment:
Version: 0
Date: 2006-06-27
User Name: 87977
Action: Approved
Comment: Please pass to final review
Version: 0
Product_uuid
fbf85562-f568-11d9-89e6-080020a9ed93|McDATA Sphereon 4700 Fabric Switch

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