FCoE Cookbook for HP Virtual Connect Version 4.20 Firmware Enhancements May 2014
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Alternative design
An alternative scenario can be created using dedicated Share Uplink Sets for the FCoE traffic combined with Shared
Uplink Sets for the standard Ethernet traffic since it is not mandatory to associate non-FCoE networks to a Converged
Shared Uplink Set network.
A typical scenario for this is when the Virtual Connect Domain cannot be modified and is already configured with Shared
Uplink Sets that are using either Non-FCoE capable VC uplink ports or Dual Homed LACP configurations (it is not
supported to connect a FCoE-capable Shared Uplink Set to two Top of Rack switches).
This scenario is using additional uplink ports however these extra links used by the FCoE traffic can provide a better
service level because the link is dedicated to the FCoE traffic and is not shared with any other types of network.
Figure 38: Alternative Virtual Connect Active-Active Converged Shared Uplink Sets scenario with Dedicated SUS for the
FCoE traffic.
FCF Mode
FlexHBA FlexNIC
FlexNIC
FlexNIC
VC Domain
FCF Mode
Blade Server
FlexHBA
FlexNIC FlexNIC
FlexNIC
vSwitch or NIC Teaming
FlexFabric
Adapter Port 1
FlexFabric
Adapter Port 2
Multi Pathing
Nexus 5xxx Series
ToR Switch using
Fabric Mode
SUS-1
FCoE
Shared Uplink Set (Non-FCoE traffic)
SUS-FCoE-1 SUS-FCoE-2
FCoE
SUS-2
Active
Non-FCoE
Active
Non-FCoE
vpc
peer link
VC Module bay 1
VC Module bay 2
Converged Shared Uplink Set (FCoE traffic)
Lossless Ethernet Network
Dual Homed LACP
SUS configuration
Converged Shared Uplink Sets (SUS) Details and Restrictions
FCoE-capable Shared Uplink Sets (SUS) can contain both the FCoE network and non-FCoE networks.
FCoE-capable SUS can support port aggregation (802.3ad).
FCoE-capable SUS can support up to 32 FCoE networks.
FCoE-capable SUS must always contain ports from a single VC module.
Note: For Multi Enclosure Stacking (MES) environments, all corresponding ports in remote enclosures will be included in
the same SUS. (e.g. selecting enc0:bay1:X1 means bay1:X1 in all remote enclosures is also included).