Reference Guide

Masterless EX_Port trunking has additional configuration requirements. Refer to Masterless EX_Port trunking on page 474 for these
additional requirements.
NOTE
QoS and EX_Port trunking can coexist. However, if some ports in the trunk group have QoS enabled and some have QoS
disabled, then two trunk groups will form: one with QoS enabled and one with QoS disabled.
Backward compatibility support
For backward compatibility, an FC router that supports EX_Port trunking can continue to interoperate with older FC routers and all
previously supported Brocade switches in the backbone fabric or Brocade edge fabric.
Configuring EX_Port trunking
With EX_Port trunking, you use the same CLI commands as you do for E_Port trunking. Refer to Configuring trunk groups on page 471
for instructions.
Displaying EX_Port trunking information
1. Log in as an admin and connect to the switch.
2. Enter the switchShow command to display trunking information for the EX_Ports.
The following is an example of a master EX_Port and a slave EX_Port displayed in switchShow output.
switch:admin> switchshow
Index Slot Port Address Media Speed State
==============================================
16 2 0 ee1000 id N4 No_Light
17 2 1 ee1100 id N4 Online EX_Port (Trunk port, master is Slot 2 Port 2 )
18 2 2 ee1200 id N4 Online EX_Port 10:00:00:05:1e:35:bb:32 "MtOlympus_82" (fabric id =
2 )(Trunk master)
19 2 3 ee1300 id N4 No_Light
20 2 4 ee1400 id N4 Online EX_Port (Trunk port, master is Slot 2 Port 7 )
21 2 5 ee1500 id N4 Online EX_Port (Trunk port, master is Slot 2 Port 7 )
22 2 6 ee1600 id N4 Online EX_Port (Trunk port, master is Slot 2 Port 7 )
23 2 7 ee1700 id N4 Online EX_Port 10:00:00:60:69:80:1d:bc "MtOlympus_72" (fabric id =
2 )(Trunk master)
F_Port trunking
You can configure F_Port trunking in the following scenarios:
∙ Between F_Ports on a Fabric OS switch and N_Ports on an Access Gateway module
∙ Between F_Ports on a Fabric OS switch and N_Ports on adapters that are compatible with Brocade Trunking technology.
For F_Port trunking, you must create a Trunk Area (TA) within the trunk group. When you assign an area within a trunk group, that group
is enabled for F_Port trunking. The TA that you assign must be within the 8-port trunk group beginning with port 0 (zero). After you
assign a TA to a port, the port immediately acquires the TA as the area of its PID. Likewise, after you remove a TA from a port, the port
immediately acquires the default area as its PID. F_Port trunking prevents reassignments of the Port ID (also referred to as the Address
Identifier) when F_Ports go offline, and it increases F_Port bandwidth.
NOTE
Ensure that the Trunking license is enabled on the connecting Access Gateway module before creating a TA on the edge
Switch. Do not create a TA if the connecting Access Gateway Module has no trunking capability (that is, no Trunking license or
the Trunking license is disabled). Doing so will cause the corresponding N_ports on the Access Gateway module to be disabled.
Managing Trunking Connections
Brocade Fabric OS Administration Guide, 8.0.1
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