Deployment Guide

FIGURE 94 Backbone-to-edge routing across base switch using FC router in legacy mode
If a backbone fabric has both a Virtual Fabrics-enabled FC router and a Virtual Fabrics-disabled FC
router, EX_Ports are not allowed from the base switch of the Virtual Fabrics-enabled FC router to the
same edge fabric that is performing backbone-to-edge routing with the Virtual Fabrics-disabled FC
router.
For example, in the above figure, you should not connect EX_Ports from the base switch (logical
switch 4 or logical switch 8) to the edge fabric FID 20, which is performing backbone-to-edge routing
with a legacy FC router.
Upgrade and downgrade considerations for FC-FC routing
When you upgrade to Fabric OS v7.0.0 or later, EX_Ports remain functional and you can continue to
perform all FC router operations on the switch.
Brocade recommends that you save your FC-FC routing configuration (using the configUpload
command) before performing any downgrades.
How replacing port blades affects EX_Port configuration
If you replace an FR4-18i blade with an 8-Gbps port blade or FX8-24 blade, the EX_Port configuration
remains the same for the first 16 ports on the 8-Gbps port blade (and for the first 12 FC ports on the
FX8-24 blade). For all other ports on the blade, the EX_Port configuration is cleared. No ports are
persistently disabled.
If you replace an 8-Gbps port blade with an FX8-24 blade, the EX_Port configuration remains the
same for the first 12 FC ports on the FX8-24 blade.
If you replace an 8-Gbps port blade or FX8-24 blade with another 8-Gbps port blade, the EX_Port
configuration remains the same.
Upgrade and downgrade considerations for FC-FC routing
578 Fabric OS Administrators Guide
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