Reference Guide

Brocade Fabric OS Command Reference 1039
53-1004112-02
spinFab
spinFab
Runs functional test of interswitch link (ISL) cabling and trunk group operation.
Synopsis spinfab
[-nmegs count]
[-framesize bytes]
[-ports itemlist]
[-setfail mode]
[-fports flag]
[-nframes number]
[-pattern number/name]
[-timeout length]
Description Use this command to verify the intended functional operation of interswitch links (ISLs) at the maximum speed by
setting up the routing hardware so that test frames received by each E_Port are retransmitted on the same E_Port.
Several frames are subsequently sent to the neighbor port attached to each active E_Port specified. Because the
default action for such frames is to route them back to the sender, which never occurs during normal traffic, the
frames circulate until the test terminates.
The frames are continuously transmitted and received in all ports in parallel. The port LEDs flicker green rapidly
while the test is running.
M->N/M->M loopback ports are tested as well, using the same algorithm, if loopback cables or loopback plugs are
present in the switch.
While the frames are circulating, the RX frame count and port CRC and encoder error statistics are monitored. If a
port stops or a low-level error occurs, the test generates an error message. Every one million frames, the circulating
frames are captured to verify that they are still circulating and in the appropriate order. In this manner, the test can
verify the entire path to the remote switch as well as the proper in-order delivery operation of any trunk groups
present.
In case of trunk master ports, all the slave ports are also monitored for low-level errors.
The switch remains in normal operation while this test is running. However, some performance degradation may
occur due to the ISLs being saturated with test frames. For this reason, use caution when running this test on live
fabrics. Consider testing only one trunk group or ISL at a time, and do not run the tests for extended periods of
time.
Combine this test with portLoopBackTest for ISL link failure isolation. If spinFab fails, replace the cable with a
loopback plug and run portLoopBackTest to verify the local switch and media. If these pass, the fault lies in the
cable, the remote switch, or media.
The frame size depends on the amount of buffer credit available on the port. There are eight possible frames that
can be sent. Especially with trunking groups, all eight possible frames are used unless there is extensive traffic
running on the link. The payload sizes of those eight frames are 1024, 12, 8,1024, 512, 1024, 12, and 1024.