FW 08.01.00 McDATA Sphereon 4500 Fabric Switch Installation and Service Manual (620-000159-330, November 2005)

Installation Tasks

2-29

Installation Tasks

• Fabric binding - Use the Fabric Binding View to lock parameters of

a fabric in accordance with the user configuration. Fabric binding

creates a membership list of element (director or switch)

Domain_IDs and worldwide names (WWNs) that can

communicate with the product.

• Switch binding - Use the Switch Binding View to create a

membership list of node (device) WWNs that can attach to the

product. The specified connection policy restricts product access

through E_Ports, F_Ports, or in general (all ports).

• Port binding - Use the Port Binding View to bind an attached

device WWN to a product Fibre Channel port.

To configure optional features, refer to the McDATA EFCM Basic

Edition User Manual (620-000240) for instructions.

Configure

Interswitch Links

This section describes optional ISL performance features configured

through Configure menu selections. The OpenTrunking PFE key must

be installed. Refer to Install PFE Keys (Optional) for instructions.

Features include:

• OpenTrunking - Use the OpenTrunking View to optimize ISL

bandwidth. The feature monitors data rates (congestion and

BB_Credit starvation) through multiple ISLs and load balances

traffic (from congested to uncongested links) accordingly.

• Preferred path - Use the Preferred Path View to specify and

configure one or more ISL data paths between multiple fabric

elements. At each fabric element, a preferred path consists of a

source port, exit port, and destination Domain_ID.

• Port fencing - Use the Port Fencing View to minimize ISLs that

bounce (repeatedly attempt to establish a connection), causing

disruptive fabric rebuilds. Fencing defines a bounce threshold

that when reached, automatically blocks the disruptive E_Port.

To configure optional features, refer to the McDATA EFCM Basic

Edition User Manual (620-000240) for instructions. If no additional

options or features are to be configured, go to Task 21: Cable Fibre

Channel Ports.