User Manual

Features Overview and ConfigurationRev 2.3-1.0.1
Mellanox Technologies
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4. Define routing engine chains over previously defined topologies and configuration files.
Defining Port Groups
The basic idea behind the port groups is the ability to divide the fabric into sub-groups and give
each group an identifier that can be used to relate to all nodes in this group. The port groups is a
separate feature from the routing chains, but is a mandatory prerequisite for it. In addition, it is
used to define the participants in each of the routing algorithms.
Defining a Port Group Policy File
In order to define a port group policy file, set the parameter 'pgrp_policy_file' in the opensm con-
figuration file.
pgrp_policy_file /etc/opensm/conf/port_groups_policy_file
Configuring a Port Group Policy
The port groups policy file details the port groups in the fabric. The policy file should be com-
posed of one or more paragraphs that define a group. Each paragraph should begin with the line
'port-group' and end with the line 'end-port-group'.
For example:
port-group
…port group qualifiers…
end-port-group
Port Group Qualifiers
Rule Qualifier
There are several qualifiers used to describe a rule that determines which ports will be added to
the group. Each port group policy must contain exactly one rule qualifier (If no rules exist, no
ports can be chosen. More than one rule, on the other hand, will cause a conflict).
Unlike the port group's beginning and ending which do not require a colon, all qualifiers
must end with a colon (':'). Also - a colon is a predefined mark that must not be used inside
qualifier values. An inclusion of a colon in the name or the use of a port group, will result
in the policy's failure.
Parameter Description Example
name Each group must have a name. Without a
name qualifier, the policy fails.
name: grp1
use 'use' is an optional qualifier that one can
define in order to describe the usage of
this port group (if undefined, an empty
string is used as a default).
use: first port group