Users Guide
9
FC Flex IO Modules
This chapter provides a generic, broad-level description of the operations, capabilities, and conguration commands of the Fiber
Channel (FC) Flex IO module.
Fibre Channel over Ethernet for FC Flex IO Modules
FCoE provides a converged Ethernet network that allows the combination of storage-area network (SAN) and LAN trac on a
Layer 2 link by encapsulating Fibre Channel data into Ethernet frames.
The Aggregator, installed with the FC Flex IO module, functions as a top-of-rack edge switch that supports converged enhanced
Ethernet (CEE) trac — Fibre channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for storage, Interprocess Communication (IPC) for servers, and
Ethernet local area network (LAN) (IP cloud) for data — as well as FC links to one or more storage area network (SAN) fabrics.
FCoE works with the Ethernet enhancements provided in Data Center Bridging (DCB) to support lossless (no-drop) SAN and LAN
trac. In addition, DCB provides exible bandwidth sharing for dierent trac types, such as LAN and SAN, according to 802.1p
priority classes of service. DCBx should be enabled on the system before the FIP snooping feature is enabled.
All of the commands that are supported for FCoE on the I/O Aggregator apply to the FC Flex IO modules. Similarly, all of the
conguration procedures and the settings that are applicable for FCoE on the I/O Aggregator are valid for the FC Flex IO modules.
NPIV Proxy Gateway for FC Flex IO Modules
The N-port identier virtualization (NPIV) Proxy Gateway (NPG) feature provides FCoE-FC bridging capability on the M I/O
Aggregator with the FC Flex IO module switch, allowing server CNAs to communicate with SAN fabrics over the M I/O Aggregator
with the FC Flex IO module.
To congure the M I/O Aggregator with the FC Flex IO module to operate as an NPIV proxy gateway, use the following commands:
description (for FCoE maps)
In an FCoE map, add a text description of the FCoE and FC parameters used to transmit storage trac over an M I/O Aggregator
with the FC Flex IO module NPIV proxy gateway in a converged fabric.
M I/O Aggregator with the FC Flex IO module
Syntax
description text
Parameters
text Enter a maximum of 32 characters.
Defaults None
Command Modes FCOE MAP
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FC Flex IO Modules