Concept Guide

Data Center Bridging (DCB)
On an I/O Aggregator, data center bridging (DCB) features are auto-congured in standalone mode. You can display information on DCB
operation by using show commands.
NOTE: DCB features are not supported on an Aggregator in stacking mode.
Supported Modes
Standalone, Stacking, PMUX, VLT
Topics:
• Ethernet Enhancements in Data Center Bridging
• Enabling Data Center Bridging
• Data Center Bridging: Default Conguration
• Data Center Bridging: Auto-DCB-Enable Mode
• Conguring Priority-Based Flow Control
• Conguring Enhanced Transmission Selection
• Hierarchical Scheduling in ETS Output Policies
• DCBx Operation
• Verifying the DCB Conguration
• QoS dot1p Trac Classication and Queue Assignment
• Troubleshooting PFC, ETS, and DCBx Operation
• Conguring the Dynamic Buer Method
Ethernet Enhancements in Data Center Bridging
The following section describes DCB.
• The device supports the following DCB features:
• Data center bridging exchange protocol (DCBx)
• Priority-based ow control (PFC)
• Enhanced transmission selection (ETS)
DCB refers to a set of IEEE Ethernet enhancements that provide data centers with a single, robust, converged network to support multiple
trac types, including local area network (LAN), server, and storage trac. Through network consolidation, DCB results in reduced
operational cost, simplied management, and easy scalability by avoiding the need to deploy separate application-specic networks.
For example, instead of deploying an Ethernet network for LAN trac, additional storage area networks (SANs) to ensure lossless bre-
channel trac, and a separate InniBand network for high-performance inter-processor computing within server clusters, only one DCB-
enabled network is required in a data center. The Dell Networking switches that support a unied fabric and consolidate multiple network
infrastructures use a single input/output (I/O) device called a converged network adapter (CNA).
A CNA is a computer input/output device that combines the functionality of a host bus adapter (HBA) with a network interface controller
(NIC). Multiple adapters on dierent devices for several trac types are no longer required.
5
Data Center Bridging (DCB) 35