Users Guide
• Guidelines for operating in SmartFabric mode
• SmartFabric network topologies
• Switch to switch cabling
• Upstream network switch requirements
• NIC teaming restrictions
• CLI commands available in Fabric mode
• Viewing fabric details
• Adding fabric
• Deleting fabric
Guidelines for operating in SmartFabric mode
The guidelines and restrictions while operating in SmartFabric mode are as follows:
• When operating with multiple chassis, ensure that switches in A1/A2 or B1/B2 in one chassis are interconnected only with other A1/A2
or B1/B2 switches respectively. Connecting switches that are placed in slots A1/A2 in one chassis with switches in slots B1/B2 in
another chassis is not supported.
• Uplinks must be symmetrical. If one switch in a SmartFabric has two uplinks, the other switch must have two uplinks of the same
speed.
• Enable LACP on the uplink ports for switches being uplinked.
• You cannot have a pair of switches in SmartFabric mode uplink to another pair of switches in SmartFabric mode. You can only uplink a
SmartFabric to a pair of switches in Full Switch mode.
• Ensure that server NICs are in an LACP LAG when connected to IOMs in SmartFabric mode.
SmartFabric network topologies
The SmartFabric Services support three network topologies with specic IOM placement requirements.
• 2 x MX9116n Fabric Switching Engines in dierent chassis
• 2 x MX5108n Ethernet Switches in the same chassis
• 2 x MX9116n Fabric Switching Engines in the same chassis
2 x MX9116n Fabric Switching Engines in separate chassis
This placement is recommended while creating a SmartFabric on top of a scalable fabric architecture. This conguration supports
placement in Chassis1/A1 and Chassis 2/A2 or Chassis1/B1 and Chassis 2/B2. A SmartFabric cannot include a switch in Fab A and a switch
in Fab B. If one of the chassis fails, placing the FSE modules in separate chassis provides redundancy. Both the chassis must be in the same
MCM group.
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SmartFabric Services