API Guide

Table 50. Differences between operating modes (continued)
Full Switch mode SmartFabric mode
All configuration changes are saved in the running
configuration by default. To display the current
configuration, use the show running-
configuration command.
Verify configuration changes using feature-specific show commands,
such as show interface and show vlan, instead of show
running-configuration.
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.
NOTE: Dell EMC Networking recommends disabling LLDP in the virtual distributed switch on VMware ESXi.
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.
PowerEdge MX Ethernet I/O modules
313