Administrator's Guide v4.1.1 Manual

FIGURE 4 Logical chassis in Ethernet fabric
Each physical switch in the fabric is managed as if it were a blade in a chassis. When a Brocade VCS
Fabric mode-enabled switch is connected to the fabric, it inherits the configuration of the fabric and the
new ports become available immediately.
Ethernet fabric formation
Brocade VCS Fabric protocols are designed to aid the formation of an Ethernet fabric with minimal
user configuration. Refer to Brocade VCS Fabric formation on page 145 for detailed information about
the Ethernet fabric formation process.
All supported switches are shipped with Brocade VCS Fabric mode disabled. Refer to Configuring
Brocade VCS Fabrics on page 145 for information about disabling and enabling Brocade VCS Fabric
mode on your switches.
Automatic neighbor node discovery
When you connect a switch to a Brocade VCS Fabric mode-enabled switch, the Brocade VCS Fabric
mode-enabled switch determines whether the neighbor also has Brocade VCS Fabric mode enabled.
If the switch has Brocade VCS Fabric mode enabled and the VCS IDs match, the switch joins the
Ethernet fabric.
Refer to Configuring Brocade VCS Fabrics on page 145 for information about changing the VCS ID.
Ethernet fabric formation
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