Cisco MDS 9000 Family Switch-to-Switch Interoperability Configuration Guide
MDS 9000 Core with Brocade 3900/12000 Edge Toplogy

Table Of Contents

MDS 9000 Core with Brocade 3900/12000 Edge Topology

Specifications

Expected Topology Behavior

Zoning

FSPF

Trunking and PortChannels

Domain IDs

Configuration

Configuring the MDS 9000 Switch

Configuring the Brocade 3900 Switch

Configuring the Brocade 12000 Switch

Verification

Verifying the MDS 9000 Switch

Verifying the Brocade 3900 Switch

Verifying the Brocade 12000 Switch

Zoning

Creating Zones on the MDS 9000 Switch

Verifying Zoning on the Brocade 12000 Switch

Verifying Zoning on the Brocade 3900 Switch


MDS 9000 Core with Brocade 3900/12000 Edge Topology


This chapter describes how to set up a basic core-edge topology with one MDS 9000 switch configured for interop mode 1 at the core and two Brocade switches at the edge. All devices are connected to the edge switches. However, all traffic must flow through the core switch to reach its destination.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Specifications

Expected Topology Behavior

Configuration

Verification

Zoning

Specifications

The following switches and code levels were used for this example configuration:

MDS 9216 running MDS SAN-OS Release 1.1(1)

Brocade 3900 Version 04.0.2d

Brocade 12000 Version 4.0.2c

Figure 6-1 shows the topology used for this example configuration.

Figure 6-1 MDS 9000 Switch Core Switch with Brocade 3900 and 12000 Edge Switch Topology

Expected Topology Behavior

This section covers the Fibre Channel services and features that act differently in this topology (Figure 6-1) as compared to a homogeneous, single-vendor implementation.

This section contains the following topics:

Zoning

FSPF

Trunking and PortChannels

Domain IDs

Zoning

In the core-edge topology (using standard interop mode), zone members are all pWWNs because the Brocade domain/port nomenclature is not a valid form according to the FC standard. When a zone set (or configuration, in Brocade terminology) activation is made at the core switch, the zone set activation reaches all switches at the same time because they are all the same distance from the core.

The Brocade edge switches provide all of the zone security because the MDS 9000 switch does not check the source and destination of the frame when traversing E ports. Brocade switches only check the zoning information on the egress port of the fabric.


Note After two active zone sets successfully merge, always copy the active zone set to the full zone set database prior to modifying it on the MDS 9000 switch.


FSPF

All links within the topology show the link cost of 500.

Because the Brocade switches load balance their routes using source and destination, the ingress edge switch uses the same core switch for all traffic that has the same source and destination pair. If the Brocade switch could load balance using source/destination/ox-id, then it could choose either of the two core switches for the route through the fabric.

Trunking and PortChannels

The lack of MDS 9000 switch-to-MDS 9000-switch connections prohibits the topology from containing TE ports or PortChannels. While in interop mode, the Brocade switches do not support trunked ports of any type. Only standard E ports are used for the ISLs.

Domain IDs

The domain IDs are limited to the 97 to 127 range due to a restriction imposed by McData's inability to handle IDs outside of that range. While Brocade switches and MDS 9000 switches can handle domain IDs outside of this range, their implementation of interoperability mode includes this limitation.

Domain ID modifications can be handled in two ways, disruptively or nondisruptively:

Disruptive—This event impacts the entire switch. When changing domain IDs, Brocade requires the entire switch to be taken offline and/or rebooted.

Nondisruptive—This event is limited to the VSAN where the event is taking place. Only the MDS 9000 switch can perform this action, as the domain manager process for this VSAN is restarted and not the entire switch. This restart requires any device logged into the VSAN to log into the fabric again to obtain a new FC ID.

Configuration

This section describes the configuration process and includes the following topics:

Configuring the MDS 9000 Switch

Configuring the Brocade 3900 Switch

Configuring the Brocade 12000 Switch

Configuring the MDS 9000 Switch

Follow these steps to configure the MDS 9000 switch.


Step 1 Place the VSAN of the E ports(s) that connect to the OEM switch in interoperability mode.

MDS9000# config t
MDS9000(config)# vsan database
MDS9000(config-vsan-db)# vsan 1 interop

Step 2 Assign a domain ID in the range of 97 (0x61) through 127 (0x7F). This interop mode limitation restricts the fabric to a total of 31 switches.

In the MDS 9000 switch, the default is to request an ID from the principal switch. If the preferred keyword is used, the MDS 9000 switch requests a specific ID, but still joins the fabric if the principal switch assigns a different ID. If the static keyword is used, the MDS 9000 switch will not join the fabric unless the principal switch agrees, and assigns the requested ID.

MDS9000# config t
MDS9000(config)# fcdomain domain 120 preferred vsan 1

Step 3 Change the Fibre Channel timers if they have been changed from the system defaults. The FC error Detect (ED_TOV) and Resource Allocation (RA_TOV) timers on the MDS 9000 switch and Brocade switches default to the same values. The RA_TOV defaults to 10 seconds, and the ED_TOV defaults to 2 seconds. These values can be changed. According to the FC-SW2 standard, these values must be the same on each switch in the fabric.

MDS9000# config t
MDS9000(config)# fctimer e_d_tov ?
  <1000-100000>  E_D_TOV in milliseconds(1000-100000)

MDS9000(config)# fctimer r_a_tov ?
  <5000-100000>  R_A_TOV in milliseconds(5000-100000)

Step 4 After making changes to the domain, restart the MDS 9000 switch domain manager function for the altered VSAN. To do this, suspend and then resume the VSAN.

MDS9509(config)# vsan database
MDS9509(config-vsan-db)# vsan 1 suspend
MDS9509(config-vsan-db)# no vsan 1 suspend


Configuring the Brocade 3900 Switch

Follow these steps to configure the Brocade 3900 switch in interoperability mode.


Step 1 Disable the switch. This is a disruptive process.

CA3900:admin> switchdisable

Step 2 Enter the configuration dialog.

CA3900:admin> configure

Configure...

  Fabric parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no] y

    Domain: (97..239) [98] 98   <==== Assign domain id in the 97-127 range
    R_A_TOV: (4000..120000) [10000]  <==== Must match other switches in the fabric
    E_D_TOV: (1000..5000) [2000]  <==== Must match other switches in the fabric
    Data field size: (256..2112) [2112]
    Sequence Level Switching: (0..1) [0]
    Disable Device Probing: (0..1) [0]
    Suppress Class F Traffic: (0..1) [0]
    VC Encoded Address Mode: (0..1) [0]
    Per-frame Route Priority: (0..1) [0]
    BB credit: (1..16) [16]

  Virtual Channel parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  Zoning Operation parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  RSCN Transmission Mode (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  NS Operation Parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  Arbitrated Loop parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  System services (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  Portlog events enable (yes, y, no, n): [no]

Step 3 Disable platform management services. Failure to do this will isolate any E ports that connect to non-Brocade switches.

CA3900:admin> msPlMgmtDeactivate
This will erase all Platform entries. Are you sure?  (yes, y, no, n): [no] y
Committing configuration...done.
Request Fabric to Deactivate Platform Management services....
Done.

Step 4 Configure interoperability mode, and then reboot.

CA3900:admin> interopmode 1  Set interop mode on
Committing configuration...done.
interopMode is 1

NOTE: It is recommended that you reboot the switch to make this change take effect


Note Do not ignore the warning message. Anomalies were experienced that required a switch reboot.



CA3900:admin> fastboot

To return to non-interop mode, you must disable the switch. Reconfigure the switch, set the interoperability mode to 0, and then reboot.


Configuring the Brocade 12000 Switch

Follow these steps to configure the Brocade 12000 switch in interoperability mode.


Step 1 Disable the switch. This is a disruptive process.

CA12000:admin> switchdisable

Step 2 Enter the configuration dialog.


CA12000:admin> configure

Configure...

  Fabric parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no] y

    Domain: (97..239) [110] 110   <==== Assign domain id in the 97-127 range
    R_A_TOV: (4000..120000) [10000]  <==== Must match other switches in the fabric
    E_D_TOV: (1000..5000) [2000]  <==== Must match other switches in the fabric
    Data field size: (256..2112) [2112]
    Sequence Level Switching: (0..1) [0]
    Disable Device Probing: (0..1) [0]
    Suppress Class F Traffic: (0..1) [0]
    VC Encoded Address Mode: (0..1) [0]
    Per-frame Route Priority: (0..1) [0]
    BB credit: (1..16) [16]

  Virtual Channel parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no
  Zoning Operation parameters (yes, y, no, n): [n
  RSCN Transmission Mode (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  NS Operation Parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  Arbitrated Loop parameters (yes, y, no, n): [no
  System services (yes, y, no, n): [no]
  Portlog events enable (yes, y, no, n): [no]

Step 3 Disable platform management services. Failure to do this will isolate E ports that connect to non-Brocade switches.

CA12000:admin> msPlMgmtDeactivate
This will erase all Platform entries. Are you sure?  (yes, y, no, n): [no] y
Committing configuration...done.
Request Fabric to Deactivate Platform Management services....
Done.

Step 4 Configure interoperability mode at the command line, and then reboot.

CA12000:admin> interopmode 1 Set interop mode on
Committing configuration...done.
interopMode is 1
NOTE: It is recommended that you boot this switch to make this change take effect


Note Do not ignore the above warning message. Anomalies were experienced that required a switch reboot.


CA12000:admin> fastboot

To return to non-interop mode, disable the switch. Reconfigure the switch, set interoperability mode to 0, and then reboot.


Verification

The following section highlights the commands used to verify that the fabric is up and running in interoperability mode.

In this example topology, there are only single ISLs. If there were multiple ISLs connecting the edge Brocade switches to the core MDS 9000 switch, the Brocade switches would load balance their routes using source and destination, and the ingress edge switch would use the same ISL for all traffic that has the same source and destination pair. The MDS 9000 switch would continue to load balance across ISLs using the source/destination/ox-id of the frame. This principle is illustrated in Figure 5-12.

Verifying the MDS 9000 Switch

The following examples show verification of the MDS 9000 switch.

MDS9000# show version
Cisco Storage Area Networking Operating System (SAN-OS) Software
TAC support: http://www.cisco.com/tac
Copyright (c) 2002-2003 by Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
The copyright for certain works contained herein are owned by
Andiamo Systems, Inc. and/or other third parties and are used and
distributed under license.


Software
  BIOS:      version 1.0.7
  loader:    version 1.0(3a) [last : 1.0(4)]
  kickstart: version 1.1(1)
  system:    version 1.1(1)

  BIOS compile time:       03/20/03
  kickstart image file is: bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.1.1.1.bin
  kickstart compile time:  5/23/2003 0:00:00
  system image file is:    bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.1.1.1.bin
  system compile time:     5/23/2003 0:00:00


Hardware
  RAM 963116 kB

  bootflash: 500736 blocks (block size 512b)
  slot0:          0 blocks (block size 512b)

  MDS9000 uptime is 1 days 21 hours 38 minute(s) 3 second(s)

  Last reset at 412363 usecs after Wed Jul  2 02:40:38 2003
    Reason: Reset Requested by management application
    System version: 1.1(1)

MDS9000# show interface brief

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface  Vsan   Admin  Admin   Status           Oper  Oper   Port-channel
                  Mode   Trunk                    Mode  Speed
                         Mode                           (Gbps)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
fc1/1      1      auto   on      notConnected     --           --
fc1/2      1      auto   on      notConnected     --           --
fc1/3      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/4      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/5      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/6      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/7      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/8      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/9      1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/10     1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/11     1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/12     1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/13     1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/14     1      auto   on      down             --           --
fc1/15     1      auto   on      up               E     2      --
fc1/16     1      E      on      up               E     2      --




----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface          Status                            Speed
                                                            (Gbps)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
sup-fc0                up                                1

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface               Status     IP Address        Speed        MTU
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
mgmt0                   up         172.22.36.255/23  100 Mbps     1500

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interface          Status   IP Address               Speed        MTU
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
vsan1               up    --                       1 Gbps       1500

MDS9000# show running-config

Building Configuration ...
vsan database
vsan 1 interop


 interface vsan1


snmp-server community public rw
snmp-server user admin network-admin auth md5 0xe649424ae4a77d12a40f7dd86f55965
 localizedkey
snmp-server host 10.10.3.20 traps version 1 public
snmp-server host 171.69.122.33 traps version 2c public udp-port 2162
snmp-server host 171.71.188.65 traps version 2c public udp-port 4058

boot system bootflash:/m9200-ek9-mz.1.1.1.bin
boot kickstart bootflash:/m9200-ek9-kickstart-mz.1.1.1.bin

ip default-gateway 172.22.36.1
kernel core module 1 level ram
kernel core module 2 level ram
kernel core module 3 level ram
kernel core module 4 level ram
kernel core module 5 level ram
kernel core module 6 level ram
kernel core module 7 level ram
kernel core module 8 level ram
kernel core module 9 level ram
kernel core module 10 level ram
kernel core module 11 level ram
kernel core module 12 level ram
kernel core module 13 level ram
kernel core module 14 level ram
kernel core module 15 level ram



switchname MDS9000
username admin password 5 AOpL5dCXKyzng  role network-admin
zone name Bro12000 vsan 1
  member pwwn 21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e
  member pwwn 21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e
  member pwwn 50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32

zone default-zone permit vsan 2-4

zoneset name BrocadeZoneSet vsan 1
  member Bro12000

zoneset  activate name BrocadeZoneSet vsan 1

 interface fc1/1
no shutdown


 interface fc1/2
no shutdown


 interface fc1/3


 interface fc1/4


 interface fc1/5


 interface fc1/6


 interface fc1/7


 interface fc1/8


 interface fc1/9


 interface fc1/10


 interface fc1/11


 interface fc1/12


 interface fc1/13


 interface fc1/14


 interface fc1/15
no shutdown


 interface fc1/16
switchport mode E
no shutdown


 interface mgmt0
ip address 172.22.36.255 255.255.254.0



MDS9000#  show vsan 1
vsan 1 information
         name:VSAN0001  state:active
         interoperability mode:yes
         loadbalancing:src-id/dst-id/oxid
         operational state:up

MDS9000# show fcdomain vsan 1
The local switch is a Subordinated Switch.

Local switch run time information:
        State: Stable
        Local switch WWN:    20:01:00:05:30:00:68:5f
        Running fabric name: 10:00:00:60:69:90:08:2f
        Running priority: 128
        Current domain ID: 0x78(120)  <==== Verify domain id

Local switch configuration information:
        State: Enabled
        FCID persistence: Disabled
        Auto-reconfiguration: Disabled
        Contiguous-allocation: Disabled
        Configured fabric name: 20:01:00:05:30:00:28:df
        Configured priority: 128
        Configured domain ID: 0x00(0) (preferred)

Principal switch run time information:
        Running priority: 2

Interface               Role          RCF-reject
----------------    -------------    ------------
fc1/15              Upstream         Disabled
fc1/16              Downstream    Disabled
----------------    -------------    ------------

MDS9000# show fcdomain domain-list vsan 1

Number of domains: 3
Domain ID              WWN
---------    -----------------------
 0x62(98)    10:00:00:60:69:90:08:2f [Principal]  <==== Brocade 3900
0x6e(110)    10:00:00:60:69:80:1d:cf		       <==== Brocade 12000
0x78(120)    20:01:00:05:30:00:68:5f [Local]      <==== MDS9216

MDS9000# show fspf internal route vsan 1

FSPF Unicast Routes
---------------------------
 VSAN Number  Dest Domain   Route Cost    Next hops
-----------------------------------------------
           1     0x62(98)          500       fc1/15
           1    0x6e(110)          500       fc1/16

MDS9000# show fspf internal route vsan 1

FSPF Unicast Routes
---------------------------
 VSAN Number  Dest Domain   Route Cost    Next hops
-----------------------------------------------
           1     0x62(98)          500       fc1/15
           1    0x6e(110)          500       fc1/16

MDS9000# show fcns database vsan 1

VSAN 1:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCID        TYPE  PWWN                    (VENDOR)        FC4-TYPE:FEATURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
0x621c00    N     21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e (QLogic)
0x621d00    N     21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e (QLogic)
0x6e0e00    N     50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32                 scsi-fcp

Total number of entries = 3


Note The MDS name server shows both local and remote entries, and it does not time out the entries.


Verifying the Brocade 3900 Switch

The following examples show verification of the Brocade 3900 switch.

CA3900:admin> version
Kernel:     2.4.2      
Fabric OS:  v4.0.2d
Made on:    Sat Apr 5 00:22:58 2003
Flash:      Mon Jun 23 18:49:49 2003
BootProm:   3.1.18

CA3900:admin> licenseshow
edcczbyc9pedd0X:
    Web license
    Zoning license
    Fabric license
    Fabric Watch license
    Trunking license

CA3900:admin> switchshow
switchName:     CA3900
switchType:     12.1
switchState:    Online   
switchRole:     Principal
switchDomain:   98
switchId:       fffc62
switchWwn:      10:00:00:60:69:90:08:2f
switchBeacon:   OFF

Port Gbic Speed State  
=========================
  0   --    N2   No_Module 
  1   --    N2   No_Module 
  2   --    N2   No_Module 
  3   --    N2   No_Module 
  4   --    N2   No_Module 
  5   --    N2   No_Module 
  6   --    N2   No_Module 
  7   --    N2   No_Module 
  8   --    N2   No_Module 
  9   --    N2   No_Module 
 10   --    N2   No_Module 
 11   --    N2   No_Module 
 12   --    N2   No_Module 
 13   --    N2   No_Module 
 14   --    N2   No_Module 
 15   id    N2   No_Light  
 16   id    N2   Online    E-Port  20:01:00:05:30:00:68:5f (downstream)
 17   --    N2   No_Module 
 18   --    N2   No_Module 
 19   --    N2   No_Module 
 20   --    N2   No_Module 
 21   --    N2   No_Module 
 22   --    N2   No_Module 
 23   --    N2   No_Module 
 24   --    N2   No_Module 
 25   --    N2   No_Module 
 26   --    N2   No_Module 
 27   --    N2   No_Module 
 28   id    N2   Online    F-Port  21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e
 29   id    N2   Online    F-Port  21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e
 30   id    N2   No_Light  
 31   id    N2   No_Light 

CA3900:admin> topologyshow

3 domains in the fabric; Local Domain ID: 98

Domain:         110
Metric:         1000
Name:           CA12000
Path Count:     1

        Hops:                   2
        Out Port:               16
        In Ports:               28 29 
        Total Bandwidth:        2 Gbps
        Bandwidth Demand:       200 %
        Flags:                  D 

Domain:         120
Metric:         500
Name:           Unknown
Path Count:     1

        Hops:                   1
        Out Port:               16
        In Ports:               28 29 
        Total Bandwidth:        2 Gbps
        Bandwidth Demand:       200 %
        Flags:                  D 

CA3900:admin> interopmode
InteropMode: On

Usage: InteropMode 0|1
         0: to turn it off
         1: to turn it on

CA3900:admin> nsallshow
3 Nx_Ports in the Fabric { 
  621c00 621d00 6e0e00 
}

Note The Brocade switch remote name server entries time out of the cache after 900 seconds (15 minutes).


CA3900:admin> urouteshow

Local Domain ID: 98

In Port    Domain    Out Port    Metric    Hops    Flags    Next (Dom, Port)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  28        110         16        1000       2       D          120,65550
            120         16         500       1       D          120,65550

Verifying the Brocade 12000 Switch

The following examples show the commands used to verify the configuration of the Brocade 12000 switch.

CA12000:admin> version
Kernel:     2.4.2      
Fabric OS:  v4.0.2c
Made on:    Wed Jan 22 04:17:49 2003
Flash:      Thu Mar 20 23:48:04 2003
BootProm:   3.1.18

CA12000:admin> licenseshow
SQeRRcyyRzdRfSSz:
    Web license
    Zoning license
    Fabric Watch license
    Trunking license
Rzb9SzQc99S0cATc:
    Fabric license

CA12000:admin> switchshow
switchName:     CA12000
switchType:     10.1
switchState:    Online   
switchRole:     Subordinate
switchDomain:   110
switchId:       fffc6e
switchWwn:      10:00:00:60:69:80:1d:cf
switchBeacon:   OFF
blade7 Beacon:  OFF

Area Slot Port Gbic Speed State  
=====================================
  0    7    0   id    N2   No_Light  
  1    7    1   id    N2   No_Light  
  2    7    2   id    N2   No_Light  
  3    7    3   id    N2   No_Light  
  4    7    4   id    N2   No_Light  
  5    7    5   id    N2   No_Light  
  6    7    6   id    N2   No_Light  
  7    7    7   id    N2   No_Light  
  8    7    8   id    N2   No_Light  
  9    7    9   id    N2   No_Light  
 10    7   10   id    N2   No_Light  
 11    7   11   id    N2   No_Light  
 12    7   12   id    N2   No_Light  
 13    7   13   id    N2   No_Light  
 14    7   14   id    N2   Online    F-Port  50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32
 15    7   15   id    N2   Online    E-Port  20:01:00:05:30:00:68:5f (upstream)



CA12000:admin> topologyshow

3 domains in the fabric; Local Domain ID: 110

Domain:         98
Metric:         1000
Name:           CA3900
Path Count:     1

        Hops:                   2
        Out Port:               7/15
        In Ports:               7/14 
        Total Bandwidth:        2 Gbps
        Bandwidth Demand:       100 %
        Flags:                  D 

Domain:         120
Metric:         500
Name:           Unknown
Path Count:     1

        Hops:                   1
        Out Port:               7/15
        In Ports:               7/14 
        Total Bandwidth:        2 Gbps
        Bandwidth Demand:       100 %
        Flags:                  D 

CA12000:admin> interopmode
InteropMode: On

Usage: InteropMode 0|1
         0: to turn it off
         1: to turn it on

CA12000:admin> nsshow
The Local Name Server has 1 entry {
 Type Pid    COS     PortName                NodeName                 TTL(sec)
 N    6e0e00;      3;50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32;50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32; na
    FC4s: FCP [HITACHI OPEN-3          2105]
    Fabric Port Name: 20:0e:00:60:69:80:1d:cf 

}
CA12000:admin> nsallshow
3 Nx_Ports in the Fabric { 
  621c00 621d00 6e0e00 
}

Note The Brocade switch remote name server entries time out of the cache after 900 seconds (15 minutes).


CA12000:admin> urouteshow

Local Domain ID: 110

In Port    Domain    Out Port    Metric    Hops    Flags    Next (Dom, Port)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14         98         15        1000       2       D          120,65551
            120         15         500       1       D          120,65551

Zoning

In this example, the zone is created on the MDS 9000 switch and the zone set is activated. After activation, the verification process confirms that the Brocade switches properly learn the zones and zone sets. In Brocade terminology, the zone set is known as the configuration. On Brocade switches, the MDS 9000 active zone set is known as the effective configuration.

The example shows how to use the name server database as a tool when building the zones. When predefining zones, you may use pWWNs of equipment not attached, or in the name server database.

Zones that are defined while the switch is in interop mode must be zoned by pWWN. Zoning by alias or FC ID is not permitted while the Brocade switch is operating in interop mode. This limits the Brocade switches to soft zoning. The MDS 9000 switch will always implement hardware-enforced zoning.

Creating Zones on the MDS 9000 Switch

Follow these steps to create zones on the MDS 9000 switch.


Step 1 Display the name server database to see the pWWN information.

MDS9000# show fcns database vsan 1

VSAN 1:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCID        TYPE  PWWN                    (VENDOR)        FC4-TYPE:FEATURE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
0x621c00    N     21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e (QLogic)        
0x621d00    N     21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e (QLogic)        
0x6e0e00    N     50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32                 scsi-fcp 

Total number of entries = 3

Step 2 Now that the pWWNs are visible, use tools like cut and paste to create the zones.

MDS9000# conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

MDS9000(config)# zone name Bro12000 vsan 1
MDS9000(config-zone)# member pwwn 21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e
MDS9000(config-zone)# member pwwn 21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e
MDS9000(config-zone)# member pwwn 50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32

MDS9000(config)# 
MDS9000(config)# zoneset name BrocadezoneSet vsan 1

MDS9000(config-zoneset)# member Bro12000

At this point, we have created one zone (Bro12000) within the zone set named BrocadeZoneSet.

Step 3 Activate the zone set BrocadeZoneSet.

MDS9000(config)# zoneset activate name BrocadeZoneSet vsan 1
Zoneset Activation initiated. check zone status
MDS9000(config)# exit

Step 4 View each switch in the fabric to verify that the defined zoning is in place. The running config will show the zone and zone set, because they were created on this switch.

MDS9000# show zoneset active vsan 1
zoneset name BrocadeZoneSet vsan 1
zone name Bro12000 vsan 1
* fcid 0x621c00 [pwwn 21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e]
* fcid 0x621d00 [pwwn 21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e]
* fcid 0x6e0e00 [pwwn 50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32]


Verifying Zoning on the Brocade 12000 Switch

The Brocade 12000 switch does not have a defined configuration, but it does contain an effective configuration. The effective configuration was passed to it by the MDS 9000 switch when the MDS 9000 switch full zone set was activated.

CA12000:admin> cfgshow
   Defined configuration:
   no configuration defined

   Effective configuration:
   cfg:   BrocadeZoneSet
   zone:  Bro12000
                21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e
                21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e
             50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32

Verifying Zoning on the Brocade 3900 Switch

The following example shows commands used to verify the configuration of the Brocade 3900 switch.

CA3900:admin> cfgshow
   Defined configuration:
   no configuration defined


 Effective configuration:
 cfg:   BrocadeZoneSet
 zone:  Bro12000
             21:01:00:e0:8b:29:8b:3e
             21:00:00:e0:8b:09:8b:3e
             50:06:0e:80:03:4e:95:32


Note The zones created in the MDS 9000 switch are propagated to the Brocade switches. Although the cfgshow command does not show these zones as the defined configuration, if the switch is isolated and rebooted, the correct zone configuration is effective.


On the MDS 9000 switch, the active zone configuration is always saved to memory. It will not display in the running configuration. If the switch is isolated and rebooted, the last active zone set is reinstated as the current active zone set.

Any changes to the zones or zone set while the switch is isolated will need to pass a zone merge validation when the ISLs are activated.