Fabric OS Administrator's Guide v7.0.0 (53-1002148-02, June 2011)

Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 227
53-1002148-02
Enabling Virtual Fabrics mode
10
Restrictions on XISLs
The Allow XISL Use option, available under the configure command, allows a logical switch to use
XISLs in the base switch as well as any standard ISLs that are connected to that logical switch. To
allow or disallow XISL use for a logical switch, see “Configuring a logical switch to use XISLs” on
page 236.
Following are restrictions on XISL use. XISL use is not permitted in any of the following scenarios:
• The logical switch is intended for use with FICON.
• Lossless Dynamic Load Sharing is enabled on the logical switch.
• The logical switch has ICL ports.
• The logical switch is the default logical switch in the Brocade DCX, DCX-4S, or DCX 8510 family.
• The logical switch is a base switch.
• The logical switch is an edge switch for an FC router.
In this case, if the logical switch is enabled, you cannot allow XISL use. If the logical switch is
disabled or has not yet joined the edge fabric, you can allow XISL use; however, fabric
segmentation occurs when the logical switch is enabled or is connected to an edge fabric.
Restrictions on moving ports
The following are restrictions on moving ports among logical switches:
• FC ports cannot be moved if any one of the following features is enabled:
- Long distance
- QoS
- F_Port buffers
- F_Port trunking
• Before moving VE_Ports, you must remove the VE_Port tunnel configuration.
• VE_Ports on the FX8-24 blade can be moved to any logical switch independent of the location
of the physical GE port.
Enabling Virtual Fabrics mode
A fabric is said to be in Virtual Fabrics mode (VF mode) when the Virtual Fabrics feature is enabled.
Before you can use the Virtual Fabrics features, such as logical switch and logical fabric, you must
enable VF mode.
VF mode is enabled by default.
NOTE
When you enable VF mode, the control processors (CPs) are rebooted and all EX_Ports are disabled
after the reboot.
1. Connect to the physical chassis and log in using an account with the chassis-role permission.
2. Enter the following command to check whether VF mode is enabled:
fosconfig --show