Users Guide

Changing operating modes
To switch an MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine or MX5108n Ethernet Switch between Full Switch and SmartFabric modes, use the
OpenManage Enterprise - Modular interface to create a new fabric.
Full Switch to SmartFabric mode
All Full Switch CLI configuration changes are deleted except for the subset of supported configuration commands that you can also enter
and save in SmartFabric mode (see
Operating modes).
SmartFabric to Full Switch mode
When you change to Full Switch mode, only the configuration changes you make using the subset of configuration commands supported
in both modes that are saved are retained.
In addition, the changes you make to port interfaces are deleted, except for admin state (shutdown/no shutdown), MTU, speed, and
auto-negotiation mode. These changes are reapplied when the IOM moves to Full Switch mode.
Restrictions
• VLANs 4001 to 4020 are reserved for internal switch communication and cannot be assigned to an interface.
• In SmartFabric mode, although you can use the CLI to create VLANs 1 to 4000 and 4021 to 4094, you cannot assign interfaces to
them. For this reason, do not use the CLI to create VLANs in SmartFabric mode.
• On an MX7116n Fabric Expander, the two QSFP28-DD uplink interfaces operate only in Ethernet mode. Use the leftmost QSFP28-DD
port 1 on the Fabric Expander to connect to servers with dual-port network interface cards (NICs). Do not use the rightmost QSFP28-
DD port 2; it is reserved for future use to connect to servers with quad-port NICs.
Port groups on I/O modules
A port group is a logical port that consists of either a single or multiple hardware ports, and provides a single cable interface. On
PowerEdge MX IO modules, only the MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine supports port groups:
• Unified port groups
• Double-density QSFP interfaces
• Single-density QSFP interfaces
The MX7116n Fabric Expander Module and MX5108n Ethernet Switch do not support port groups.
Double-density QSFP28 interfaces
On the MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine module, configure a double-density QSFP28 (QSFP28-DD) port in PORT-GROUP mode. A
QSFP28-DD port group consists of two Ethernet 100G ports. The ports do not function as a single 200GE port. Use a QSFP28-DD port
to:
• Connect to a Fabric Expander to extend the fabric.
• Connect to an Ethernet rack server or storage device.
• Connect to another switch or router.
Figure 5. MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine — QSFP28-DD port groups
QSFP28-DD port groups are 1 to 12 and contain physical ports 1/1/17 to 1/1/40. Server-facing ports are 1/1/1 to 1/1/16.
QSFP28-DD Ethernet interfaces support Fabric Expander mode (FEM) and native Ethernet mode.
• In FEM mode, an 8x25GE interface connects only to an attached Fabric Expander using supported cables.
• In native Ethernet mode, an interface connects to an upstream switch, rack server, or other Ethernet device.
By default, QSFP28-DD port groups 1 to 9 are configured in FEM mode with 8x25GE breakout interfaces enabled. QSFP28-DD port
groups 10 to 12 are configured in native mode with 2x100GE breakout interfaces enabled.
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PowerEdge MX Ethernet I/O modules