Users Guide

Introduction

Active Fabric Manager (AFM) is a network automation and orchestration tool with a graphical user

interface (GUI) that allows you to design, build, deploy, and optimize a Layer 3 distributed core, Layer 3

with Resiliency (Routed VLT), and Layer 2 VLT fabric for your current and future capacity requirements.

This tool helps you simplify network operations, automate tasks, and improve efficiency in the data

center.

Use AFM to monitor performance at the network, fabric, switch, and port level or display additional

performance statistics through AFM using a Dell OpenManage Network Manager (OMNM) server. It

automates common network management operations and provides advanced network element

discovery, remote configuration management, and system health monitoring to proactively alert network

administrators to potential network problems. OMNM provides SOAP-based web services to provide

integration with non-Dell products. AFM supports Dell Networking S4048–ON, S3048–ON, S4810,

S4820T, S55, S60, S5000, S6000, IOA blade, MXL blade, N20XX series, N30XX series, N40XX series,

Z9500, and Z9000 (standard mode only) switches.

NOTE: Before you begin, review the Getting Started page. To learn how to install AFM, including

instructions on completing the Initial Setup, refer to the Active Fabric Manager Deployment Guide.

Introduction