HP StorageWorks Fabric Interoperability: Merging Fabrics Based on M-series and B-series Fibre Channel Switches Application Notes (AA-RUQQL-TE, November 2009)

M-series firmware 9.7.2 feature not supported by Fabric OS earlier than 6.3.0
B-series switches do not support a domain ID offset configuration. They require the default offset value
0x60 (96).
M-series switches use the domain ID offset to assign the first byte of the PID for attached end devices.
• Homogeneous/McDATA Fabric mode supports a domain ID in the range of 1–31.
• McDATA Open Fabric mode supports a domain ID range of 97–127.
• The starting offset of this range of domain IDs can be modified by adding an offset value (any
multiple of 0x20 through 0xC0) to the actual domain ID of the switch. This value is used when
assigning the PID.
Traditionally, M-series-based switches used an offset of 0x60, or 96 in decimal notation. For ex-
ample, a switch with a domain ID configured to 3 would assign a value of 99 (0x63) to the first
byte of all PIDs.
Diagnostic test differences
The porttest and spinfab diagnostic tests are designed for an E_Port linked to B-series-attached
switches. These diagnostics fail if the E_Port is linked to an M-series switch.
Optional B-series Fabric OS 6.x licensing
Table 4 describes the optional licensed features supported by Fabric OS 6.x on B-series switches used
in a fabric with M-series switches.
Table 4 Supported options
DescriptionLicense
Allows up to 500 km of switched-fabric connectivity at full bandwidth
over long distances
Extended Fabrics
Monitors mission-critical switch operationsFabric Watch
ISL trunking has been enhanced to enable trunking over long-distance
links up to 250 km through a new command—LD (variable distance).
This feature works only when forming trunks between a B-series
switch and an M-series switch in the fabric.
ISL Trunking Over Extended Fabrics
Provides additional ports through a license key upgradePorts on Demand
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