Users Guide

9 Dell EMC PowerEdge MX SmartFabric Configuration and Troubleshooting Guide
operate as a Layer 2 I/O aggregation fabric and are managed through the Open Manage Enterprise - Modular
(OME-M) graphical user interface or console.
This guide also demonstrates connectivity with different upstream switch options, including:
• Dell EMC PowerSwitch Z9100-ON
• Cisco Nexus 3232C
• Fibre Channel connectivity methods: NPG, Direct Attach, and FSB modes
Note: The examples in document assume that the MX7000 chassis are configured in a Multi-Chassis
Management group and that no errors have been found. Additionally, this guide assumes the reader has a basic
understanding of the PowerEdge MX platform.
Four important terminologies and their definitions are as follows:
Scalable Fabric – This is exclusive to the MX7000 platform. This is an architecture comprised of the Dell
EMC Networking MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine (FSE) and Dell EMC Networking MX7116n Fabric
Expander Module (FEM) allowing a fabric to span up to ten MX7000 chassis. This creates a single network
fabric enabling efficient east/west traffic flows between participating chassis. Scalable Fabric is supported in
both SmartFabric and Full Switch modes.
SmartFabric mode - SmartFabric mode leverages SmartFabric Services (see below) to create a Layer 2
network leveraging one to ten MX7000 chassis. Switches operating in SmartFabric mode are administered
through the OpenManage Enterprise - Modular (OME-M) GUI interfaces that provide complete lifecycle
management of the network fabric.
Full Switch mode – When operating in Full Switch mode, the switch can perform any functionality supported
by the version of SmartFabric OS10 running on the switch. Most of the configuration is performed using the
CLI, not the OME-M GUI.
SmartFabric Services (SFS) – In PowerEdge MX, SFS technology provides the underlying network
automation and orchestration to support all automated network operations. SFS is the underlying technology
for all Dell EMC SmartFabric OS10 automation efforts including PowerEdge MX, Isilon back-end storage
networking, VxRail network automation, and so on.
Table 1 outlines what this document is and is not. Also, this guide assumes a basic understanding of the
PowerEdge MX platform.
Dell EMC PowerEdge MX SmartFabric Configuration and Troubleshooting Guide - is/is not
This guide is
This guide is not/does not
A reference for the most used features of
SmartFabric operating mode
A guide for all features of the MX7000 platform
A secondary reference to the Release Notes
Take precedence over the Release Notes
Note: For a general overview and details of PowerEdge MX networking concepts, see the Dell EMC PowerEdge
MX Network Architecture Guide.