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

Enabling Fabric Binding using DCFM or EFCM automatically enables insistent domain ID on all B-series

and M-series switches in the fabric. Disabling Fabric Binding does not turn off insistent domain ID.

DCFM or EFCM automates the fabric binding configuration process.

E_Port Authentication between B-series and M-series switches

E_Port Authentication allows switches to authenticate connections to other switches. You can use E_Port

Authentication in McDATA Open Fabric mode and in McDATA Fabric mode. Using this feature

requires that the proper license keys are activated on both the B-series and the M-series switches.

Switch secrets must be set correctly; otherwise, authentication will fail.

Because M-series switches support the DH-CHAP authentication only, not all B-series authentication

configurations work when connected to an M-series switch. With DH-CHAP authentication, you must

configure the shared secrets on both switches.

Table 7 describes B-series authentication types.

Table 7 B-series switch authentication types

NotesM-series supportAuthentication type

M-series switches select the supported DH-CHAP

protocol.

YesFCAP, DH-CHAP

M-series switch does not support FCAP protocol.NoFCAP

DH-CHAP is supported.YesDH-CHAP

Table 8 provides information about B-series authentication modes.

Table 8 B-series authentication modes

Notes

M-series

supportAuthentication mode

The B-series switch participates in the authentication policy initi-

ated by the M-series switch, but does not initiate authentication.

YesPassive

During switch initialization, authentication is initiated on all

E_Ports. However, the port is not disabled if the connecting M-

series switch does not support authentication. An example would

be if the authentication feature key is not installed on the M-

series switch.

YesActive

Strict authentication is enforced on all E_Ports. The ISL goes

down (port disable) if the connecting M-series switch does not

support authentication. An example would be if the authentica-

tion feature key is not installed on the M-series switch.

YesOn

Disables the authentication and the switch rejects any authentic-

ation requests issued from the M-series switch.

YesOff

NOTE:

An M-series switch can connect to a B-series switch in any of the switch authentication modes.