Reference Guide

TABLE 60 Virtual Fabrics interaction with Fabric OS features
Fabric OS feature Virtual Fabrics interaction
Access Gateway Virtual Fabrics is not supported on a switch if AG mode is enabled.
Configuration upload and download Virtual Fabrics uses a configuration file that is different from the
configuration file used to download system configuration parameters.
Refer to Maintaining the Switch Configuration File on page 257 for more
information about how Virtual Fabrics affects the configuration file.
Encryption Encryption functionality using the FS8-18 blade is available only on the
default logical switch.
FC-FC Routing Service All EX_Ports must reside in a base switch.
You cannot attach EX_Ports to a logical switch that has XISL use enabled.
You must use ISLs to connect the logical switches in an edge fabric.
Refer to Using FC-FC Routing to Connect Fabrics on page 489 for more
information about Virtual Fabrics and FC-FC routing.
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 59 for more information about how Virtual Fabrics
affects NTP.
QoS QoS VCs are maintained across the base fabric. Refer to Optimizing
Fabric Behavior on page 387 for more information about using the
Adaptive Networking features with Virtual Fabrics.
Traffic Isolation Traffic Isolation with Failover-Disabled (TI FD) zoning is not supported
over LISLs; Traffic Isolation zones with Failover-Enabled (TI FE) is
supported. TI FD zoning is supported over DISLs (physical links). TI FD
zoning is not supported in the base fabric.
Refer to Optimizing Fabric Behavior on page 387 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.
TABLE 61 Maximum number of logical switches per chassis
Platform Maximum number of logical switches
Brocade X6 Directors 8
Brocade DCX 8510 Backbones 8
Brocade 6510 4
Brocade 6520 4
Brocade G620 4
Brocade 7840 4
Managing Virtual Fabrics
Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1
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