Users Guide

Spanning-tree protocol
SFS uses RPVST+ as the default spanning tree protocol to build leaf and spine switches.
Spanning-tree protocol is disabled for VXLAN networks. SFS automatically creates user networks as VXLAN networks inside the
fabric. For a Layer 2 uplink from the fabric to the external network, the uplink ports in the fabric are configured as VXLAN
access interfaces and spanning-tree BPDUs are not sent to the external network.
SFS support for MSTP on L3 fabric: By default, the STP mode is RPVST+. You can change the mode to MSTP once the
fabric is built. When you change the mode, the whole fabric goes through a reboot cycle and the new mode will be set as MSTP.
NOTE: Changing the mode impacts traffic in the SFS as fabric reboots.
The spanning tree behavior for Layer3 fabric is as follows:
● STP is enabled on Cluster control VLAN (VLAN 4000). The spine switches are configured to take over the STP root role.
● STP is disabled on all inter leaf-spine VLANs and leaf-leaf VLAN (4001-4091).
● STP is enabled on all user created VLANs.
● STP is disabled on server facing port.
NOTE: VLANs used for setting up the leaf and spine eBGP peering are automatically set up to prevent loops while having
nonblocking connections between the leaf and spine switches.
SFS and OMNI supported solutions
OMNI 1.3 with the latest SmartFabric Services OS10 release supports the following qualified solutions:
Table 2. Qualified solutions
Qualified Solutions Dynamic discovery Onboarding type vCenter/Day 2 automation
VxRail Yes Automatic Yes
PowerStore X (ESXi) Yes Import from Fabric or vCenter Yes
PowerStore T Yes Import from Fabric No
Isilon front-end/PowerScale No Manual No
Other devices running ESXi No Import from vCenter or Manual Yes
Other devices running
Windows or Linux-based
Operating Systems
No Manual No
NOTE: Other devices can be supported provided they meet the industry Ethernet standards and are compatible with
SmartFabric-enabled switches.
Dynamic Discovery - Devices that support dynamic discovery send a Dell-specific LLDP TLV. Supported devices are
automatically populated in the SFS GUI and OMNI by MAC address, switch, and switch port number for onboarding to the
fabric. Devices that do not send the Dell-specific LLDP TLV must be manually added to the fabric.
Onboarding - Onboarding is the process of adding devices to the fabric through the creation of server interface profiles. For
VxRail, the SFS and VxRail Manager automates the onboarding process. PowerStore systems support dynamic discovery and
may be onboarded using the Import from Fabric option in OMNI, see Import SmartFabric discovered server interfaces. Hosts
running ESXi may be onboarded using the Import from vCenter option in OMNI only if the hosts are already connected to
vCenter. For more information, see Import ESXi host profiles from vCenter. Other devices are manually onboarded by specifying
the switch and switch port number for each interface, see Create server interface profile.
vCenter/Day 2 Automation - Port groups that are created in vCenter are automatically applied to the applicable host-
connected ports on the switch. The host must be running ESXi, added to the vCenter, and have a server profile that is created
in OMNI. For the automation to work, register OMNI with the vCenter and ensure to start the respective OMNI vCenter
automation services.
NOTE: See the Solutions Support Matrix for the latest supported versions for all the qualified solutions.
SmartFabric Services 11