Administrator Guide

The aggregator provides zero-touch configuration for DCB. The aggregator auto-configures DCBX port roles
as follows:
• Server-facing ports are configured as auto-downstream interfaces.
• Uplink ports are configured as auto-upstream interfaces.
In operation, DCBx auto-configures uplink ports to match the DCB configuration in the ToR switches to
which they connect.
The Aggregator supports DCB only in standalone mode.
FCoE Connectivity and FIP Snooping
Many data centers use Fiber Channel (FC) in storage area networks (SANs). Fiber Channel over Ethernet
(FCoE) encapsulates Fiber Channel frames over Ethernet networks.
On an Aggregator, the internal ports support FCoE connectivity and connects to the converged network
adapter (CNA) in servers. FCoE allows Fiber Channel to use 10-Gigabit Ethernet networks while preserving the
Fiber Channel protocol.
The Aggregator also provides zero-touch configuration for FCoE connectivity. The Aggregator auto-
configures to match the FCoE settings used in the switches to which it connects through its uplink ports.
FIP snooping is automatically configured on an Aggregator. The auto-configured port channel (LAG 128)
operates in FCF port mode.
iSCSI Operation
Support for iSCSI traffic is turned on by default when the Aggregator powers up. No configuration is required.
When an aggregator powers up, it monitors known TCP ports for iSCSI storage devices on all interfaces.
When a session is detected, an entry is created and monitored as long as the session is active.
The Aggregator also detects iSCSI storage devices on all interfaces and autoconfigures to optimize
performance. Performance optimization operations, such as Jumbo frame size support and disabling storm
control on interfaces connected to an iSCSI equallogic (EQL) storage device, are applied automatically.
Link Aggregation
All uplink ports are configured in a single LAG (LAG 128). Server-facing ports are auto-configured as part of
link aggregation groups if the corresponding server is configured for LACP-based network interface controller
(NIC) teaming. Static LAGs are not supported.
NOTE
: The recommended LACP timeout is Long-Timeout mode.
Before You Start 39