Users Guide

SmartFabric Services

SmartFabric Services is a capability of Dell EMC Networking OS10 Enterprise Edition running on Ethernet switches designed for

the PowerEdge MX platform.

A SmartFabric is a logical entity containing a collection of physical resources such as servers and switches and logical resources

—networks, templates, and uplinks. In the SmartFabric Services mode, the switches operate as a simple Layer 2 input output

aggregation device, which enables complete interoperability with network equipment vendors.

A SmartFabric provides:

● Data center Modernization

○ I/O Aggregation

○ Plug-and-play fabric deployment

○ A single interface to manage all switches in the fabric like a single logical switch

● Lifecycle Management

○ Fabric-wide firmware upgrade scheduling

○ Automated or user enforced roll back to last well-known state

● Fabric Automation

○ Ensured compliance with selected physical topology

○ Policy based Quality of Service (QoS) based on VLAN and Priority assignments

○ Automatic detection of fabric misconfigurations and link level failure conditions

○ Automated healing of the fabric on failure condition removal

● Failure Remediation

○ Dynamically adjusts bandwidth across all inter-switch links in the event of a link failure

Unlike Full Switch mode, most fabric configuration settings are performed using the OME-Modular.

For information about automated QoS, see SmartFabric VLAN management and automated QoS

Changing operating modes

In both Full Switch and Fabric modes, all configuration changes you make using the OME–Modular interface are retained when

you switch modes. It is recommended that you use the GUI for all switch configurations in Fabric mode and the OS10 CLI for

configuring switches in Full Switch mode.

To switch an MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine or MX5108n Ethernet Switch between Full Switch and Fabric modes, use the

OME–Modular GUI and create a fabric with that switch. When that switch is added to the fabric, it automatically changes to

Fabric mode. When you change from Full Switch to Fabric mode, all Full Switch CLI configuration changes are deleted except

for a subset of settings supported in Fabric mode.

To change a switch from Fabric to Full Switch mode, the fabric must be deleted. At that time, all Fabric GUI configuration

settings are deleted. However, the configurations supported by the subset of Fabric CLI commands (hostname, SNMP settings,

and so on) and the changes you make to port interfaces, MTU, speed, and auto-negotiation mode, are not deleted. The changes

to port interfaces exclude the administrator state—shutdown/no shutdown.

Topics:

• Guidelines for operating in SmartFabric mode

• SmartFabric network topologies

• Switch to switch cabling

• Upstream network switch requirements

• NIC teaming restrictions

• CLI commands available in Fabric mode

• Viewing fabric details

• Adding fabric

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