Technical data

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Overview
Brocade NOS 2.1.1_fuj is the platform-specific release that supports the VDX 2730 Connection Blade for the
Fujitsu BX900 and BX400 Blade Server. Other than the expectations noted in this document, this software
release is functionally similar to NOS 2.1.1.
Release NOS 2.1.1_fuj is based on Brocade Network Operating System (NOS) v2.1.1, which provides the basis
for Brocade VCS
™ technology that runs on Brocade VDX™ switches. Brocade Network OS is the revolutionary
genesis of two decades of engineering development, combining the strengths of Brocade’s datacenter SAN
and LAN platforms. It enables building private cloud datacenters that are robust, simplified, and scalable.
Warning:
a) Do not load NOS 2.1.1 or other non-supported NOS releases on the VDX 2730. Note that
NOS 2.1.1_fuj is a special release that supports the VDX 2730.
b) NOS 2.1.1_fuj is only supported for VDX 2730. Do not load this release on any other switch platform.
Descriptions of Key NOS Features
VCS Technology
Brocade VCS technology is a revolutionary Layer 2 (L2) Ethernet technology that raises network utilization,
increases application availability, enhances system scalability, and drastically simplifies the data center
network architecture. Based on the concept of Ethernet fabric, distributed intelligence, and logical chassis, the
architecture will be further extended over time with new services and capabilities, providing Brocade
customers with the highest level of investment protection.
Brocade Trunking
A Brocade Trunk is a hardware-based link aggregation group. Brocade trunks are dynamically formed between
two adjacent switches. The trunk formation, which is not driven by LACP, is instead controlled by the same FC
trunking protocol that controls the trunk formation on FC switches operating with Brocade Fabric Operating
System. On connecting links between two adjacent Brocade VDX switches, Brocade trunks are enabled
automatically, without requiring any additional configuration. Brocade trunking operates at Layer 1 (L1) and is
a vastly superior technology when compared to software-based hashing used in standard LAG that operates at
L2. It evenly distributes traffic across the member links on a frame-by-frame basis without the need for hashing
algorithms, and can co-exist with standard IEEE 802.3ad LAGs.
Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT) and Virtual LAG (vLAG)
Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT) is an industry-accepted solution that is used to avoid spanning tree in L2
topologies. Link Aggregation Group (LAG) based MCT is a special case of LAG covered in IEEE 802.3ad, in
which the LAG ends terminate on two separate chassis that are directly connected to each other. Virtual LAG
(vLAG), a Brocade innovation, further extends the concept of LAG by allowing its formation across two physical
switches that may not be directly connected to each other (but participate in the same VCS fabric).
Automatic Migration of Port Profiles (AMPP)
Automatic Migration of Port Profile (AMPP) functionality provides fabric-wide configuration of Ethernet policies,
achieves per-port profile forwarding, and enables network-level features to support VM mobility. AMPP bridges
the gap between existing server virtualization infrastructures and L2 switching capabilities by providing a
mechanism for migrating the port profile resident in a switch and associated with an OS image, to a different
port or switch when that OS image migrates from one server to another.
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
Network OS (NOS) has an FCoE processing stack and is capable of processing FIP logins. NOS switches enable
a multi-hop FCoE use case when connected in a VCS cluster. FCoE-to-FC bridging is also enabled by NOS when
FC ports are present on the switch, such as in the VDX 2730.