Setup Guide

9 Dell EMC PowerEdge MX SmartFabric Configuration and Troubleshooting Guide
NOTE: For a detailed overview of the PowerEdge MX hardware, see Appendix A. For more information about the
PowerEdge MX network architecture, see the Dell EMC PowerEdge MX Networking Architecture Guide.
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 – Exclusive to the MX7000 platform. This is an architecture comprised of the Dell EMC
Networking MX9116n Fabric Switching Engine and Dell EMC Networking MX7116n Fabric Expander Module
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. Supported in both SmartFabric and Full Switch modes.
SmartFabric Mode - SmartFabric Mode leverages Smart Fabric 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 OS10 running on the switch. Most of the configuration is performed using the CLI, not the
OME-M GUI.
Smart Fabric 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 Networking 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 of PowerEdge MX networking concepts, see the
Dell EMC PowerEdge MX
Network Architecture Guide.