Users Guide

Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 461
53-1002920-02
Understanding D_Port
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Once the ports are configured and enabled as D_Ports, the following basic test suite is executed in
the following order, depending on the SFPs installed:
1. Electrical loopback (with 16 Gbps SFP+ only)
2. Optical loopback (with 16 Gbps SFP+ only)
3. Link traffic (with 10 Gbps SFPs, 16 Gbps SFP+, and QSFP+)
4. Link latency and distance measurement (with 10 Gbps SFPs, 16 Gbps SFP+, and QSFP+)
NOTE
Electrical and optical loopback tests are not supported for ICLs.
The following steps are the fundamental parts of D_Port testing:
1. The user configures the desired ports on both ends of the connection.
2. Once both sides are configured, a basic test suite is initiated automatically when the link
comes online, conducting diagnostic tests in the following order: (1) electrical loopback, (2)
optical loopback, (3) link traffic, and (4) link latency and distance measurement.
3. After the automatic test is complete, the user can view results through the CLI or a GUI and
rectify issues (if any) that are reported.
4. The user can also start (and restart) the test manually to verify the link.
Advantages of D_Port
Use the D_Port tests for the following situations:
• Testing a new link before adding it to the fabric
• Testing a trunk member before joining it with the trunk
• Testing long-distance cables and SFP transceivers
D_Port configuration mode and nature of test
D_Port has two modes: static and dynamic. In static mode, you explicitly configure the port to as a
D_Port. In dynamic mode, the port is automatically set to a D_Port based on an external request
from a remote port.
Dynamic D_Port mode is supported only on connections between a switch and an HBA.
By default, the switch has the capability to support dynamic D_Port mode. You can turn this
capability off using the configure command, as shown here.
switch:admin> configure
Not all options will be available on an enabled switch.
To disable the switch, use the "switchDisable" command.
Configure...
Fabric parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no] y
WWN Based persistent PID (yes, y, no, n): [no]
Dynamic D-Port (on, off): [on] off