Switch Interoperability
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m
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For information about configuring interop modes 2, 3, and 4, refer to the Cisco MDS 9000 Family
Switch-to-Switch Interoperability Configuration Guide.
Table 30-2
are specific to switches in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family while in interop mode.
Table 30-2
Switch Feature
Domain IDs
Timers
F_S_TOV
D_S_TOV
E_D_TOV
R_A_TOV
Trunking
Default zone
Zoning attributes
Zone propagation
VSAN
Cisco MDS 9000 Family CLI Configuration Guide
30-14
Mode 1— Standards based interop mode that requires all other vendors in the fabric to be in interop
mode.
Mode 2—Brocade native mode (Core PID 0).
Mode 3—Brocade native mode (Core PID 1).
Mode 4—McData native mode.
lists the changes in switch behavior when you enable interoperability mode. These changes
Changes in Switch Behavior When Interoperability Is Enabled
Changes if Interoperability Is Enabled
Some vendors cannot use the full range of 239 domains within a fabric.
Domain IDs are restricted to the range 97-127. This is to accommodate
McData's nominal restriction to this same range. They can either be set up
statically (the Cisco MDS switch accept only one domain ID, if it does not get
that domain ID it isolates itself from the fabric) or preferred. (If it does not get
its requested domain ID, it accepts any assigned domain ID.)
All Fibre Channel timers must be the same on all switches as these values are
exchanged by E ports when establishing an ISL. The timers are F_S_TOV,
D_S_TOV, E_D_TOV, and R_A_TOV.
Verify that the Fabric Stability Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Distributed Services Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Error Detect Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Verify that the Resource Allocation Time Out Value timers match exactly.
Trunking is not supported between two different vendor's switches. This
feature may be disabled on a per port or per switch basis.
The default zone behavior of permit (all nodes can see all other nodes) or deny
(all nodes are isolated when not explicitly placed in a zone) may change.
Zones may be limited to the pWWN and other proprietary zoning methods
(physical port number) may be eliminated.
Note
Some vendors do not pass the full zone configuration to other switches, only
the active zone set gets passed.
Verify that the active zone set or zone configuration has correctly propagated
to the other switches in the fabric.
Interop mode only affects the specified VSAN.
Note
Brocade uses the cfgsave command to save fabric-wide zoning
configuration. This command does not have any effect on Cisco MDS
9000 Family switches if they are part of the same fabric. You must
explicitly save the configuration on each switch in the Cisco MDS 9000
Family.
Interop modes cannot be enabled on FICON-enabled VSANs.
Chapter 30
Advanced Features and Concepts
OL-18084-01, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.x