Deployment Guide

Virtual Fabrics interaction with Fabric OS features (Continued)TABLE 60
Fabric OS feature Virtual Fabrics interaction
FICON Up to two logical switches per chassis can run FICON Management Server (CUP), but
the FICON logical switch can use both ISLs and XISLs.
ISL R_RDY mode ISL R_RDY mode is not supported in a base switch.
Licensing Licenses are applicable for all logical switches in a chassis.
Network time protocol
(NTP)
The clock information for a chassis is maintained by the default logical switch and not
from the principal or primary FCS switch. Refer to Network time protocol on page 55 for
more information about how Virtual Fabrics affects NTP.
Performance
monitoring
Performance monitors are supported in a limited number of logical switches, depending
on the platform type. Refer to Monitoring Fabric Performance on page 491 for more
information about performance monitoring when Virtual Fabrics is enabled.
QoS QoS VCs are maintained across the base fabric. Refer to Optimizing Fabric Behavior on
page 375 for more information about using the Adaptive Networking features with
Virtual Fabrics.
Traffic Isolation Traffic Isolation zones with failover disabled are not supported in logical fabrics. Refer to
Optimizing Fabric Behavior on page 375 for additional information about using TI Zones
with Virtual Fabrics.
Limitations and restrictions of Virtual Fabrics
Before you use the Virtual Fabrics feature, you should be aware of the restrictions and limitations
regarding QSFP ports and the maximum number of logical switches per chassis.
In the core blades, all four ports belonging to a QSFP must be moved to the same logical switch.
The maximum number of logical switches per chassis varies depending on the switch model. The
following table lists the supported platforms and the maximum number of logical switches (including the
default logical switch) supported on each.
Maximum number of logical switches per chassis TABLE 61
Platform Maximum number of logical switches
Brocade DCX 8
Brocade DCX-4S 8
Brocade DCX 8510 family 8
Brocade 5300 4
Brocade 5100 3
Brocade 6510 3
Limitations and restrictions of Virtual Fabrics
Fabric OS Administrators Guide 283
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