Usefull Brocade Switch commands Brocase switches Some Usefull Brocade Switch commands aliadd Add a member to a zone alias alicreate Create a zone alias alidelete Delete a zone alias aliremove Remove a member from a zone alias alishow Print zone alias information cfgadd Add a member to a configuration cfgclear Clear all zone configurations cfgcreate Create a zone configuration cfgdelete Delete a zone configuration cfgdisable Disable a zone configuration cfgenable Enable a zone configuration cfgremove Remove a member from a configuration cfgsave Save zone configurations in flash cfgshow Print zone configuration information cfgsize Print size details of zone database cfgtransabort Abort zone configuration transaction cfgtransshow Print zone configurations in transaction buffer fabportshow Display contents of a particular port's data
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Usefull Brocade Switch commands
Brocase switches
Some Usefull Brocade Switch commands
aliadd Add a member to a zone alias
alicreate Create a zone alias
alidelete Delete a zone alias
aliremove Remove a member from a zone alias
alishow Print zone alias information
cfgadd Add a member to a configuration
cfgclear Clear all zone configurations
cfgcreate Create a zone configuration
cfgdelete Delete a zone configuration
cfgdisable Disable a zone configuration
cfgenable Enable a zone configuration
cfgremove Remove a member from a configuration
cfgsave Save zone configurations in flash
cfgshow Print zone configuration information
cfgsize Print size details of zone database
cfgtransabort Abort zone configuration transaction
cfgtransshow Print zone configurations in transaction buffer
fabportshow Display contents of a particular port's data
fabricshow Print fabric membership info
fabstateclear Clears the fabric state information
fabstateshow Displays the fabric state information
fabstatsshow Displays the fabric statistics information
fabswitchshow Display fabric switch state information
nsaliasshow Display local Name Server information with Aliases
nsallshow Print global Name Server information
nscamshow Print local Name Server Cache information
nsshow Print local Name Server information information
nszonemember Display the information of all the online devices
switchshow Print switch and port status
switchuptime Displays the amount of time for which the switch is up
portdisable Disable a specified port
portenable Enable a specified port
zoneadd Add a member to a zone
zonecreate Create a zone
zonedelete Delete a zone
zonehelp Print zoning help info
zoneremove Remove a member from a zone
zoneshow Print zone information
Hard Zoning or Soft Zoning
Zone Types
Zones can be hard (hardware enforced) or soft (advisory).
In a hard zone, sometimes referred to as a port zone, zone members are specified by physical port number. In a soft zone, at least one zone member is specified logically by World Wide Name (WWN).
Hard Zones In a hard zone, all zone members are specified as switch ports; any number
of ports in the fabric can be configured to the zone. When a zone member is
specified by port number, only the individual device port specified is
included in the zone.
Hard zones are position-dependent, that is, a device is identified by the
physical port to which it is connected. Switch hardware ensures that there is
no data transfer between unauthorized zone members. However, devices can
transfer data between ports within the same zone. Consequently, hard zoning
provides the greatest security possible. Use it where security must be rigidly
enforced.
Soft Zones In a soft zone, at least one zone member is specified by WWN. A device is
included in a zone if either the node WWN or port WWN specified matches
an entry in the name server table.
When a device logs in, it queries the name server for devices within the
fabric. If zoning is in effect, only the devices in the same zone(s) are
returned. Other devices are hidden from the name server query reply. When
a WWN is specified, all ports on the specified device are included in the
zone.
Soft zones are name server-dependent and therefore provide more flexibility
- new devices can be attached without regard to physical location. However,
the switch does not control data transfer so there is no guarantee against data
transfer from unauthorized zone members. Use soft zoning where flexibility
is important and security can be ensured by the cooperating hosts.
In addition to hard and soft zones, a third type of zone is also available:
Broadcast Zone Only one broadcast zone can exist within a fabric. It is named
“broadcast” and it is used to specify those nodes that are to receive broadcast traffic.
This type of zone is hardware enforced; the switch controls data transfer to a
When zoning is disabled, the fabric is in non-zoning state and devices can access other devices in the fabric. When zoning is enabled, zoning is enforced throughout the fabric and devices can communicate only within their zones.
A switch can maintain any number of zone configurations; however, only one zone configuration can be enabled, or enforced, at a time.
Because multiple configurations reside in the switch, you can switch from one configuration to another as events dictate. For example, you can set up a
prespecified
zone configuration to be enabled at certain times of the day; or, in the event of a disaster, you can quickly enable a defined configuration to implement your disaster policy. Zone configurations can be:
Defined
This is the complete set of all zone objects that have been defined in the
fabric. When zone objects are defined, the information initially resides in
RAM; it must be saved to ensure that it is saved to flash memory and is not
lost during power down or when a new zone configuration is enabled.
Changes replicate to all switches in the fabric whenever the zone
information is changed. However, changes must be saved to flash memory to
be committed to persistent store (that is, to remain across reboot).
Enabled
This is the zone configuration that is enabled (active). It resides in RAM; it
must be saved to ensure that it is not lost when a new configuration is
enabled or during power down. Any changes replicate to all switches in the
fabric when the configuration is enabled or saved. Use the cfgEnable
command to: enable a zone configuration, initiate cfgSave, and propagate
zoning throughout the fabric.
Disabled
Use the cfgDisable command to: disable a zoning configuration, initiate
cfgSave to save the zoning configuration to the flash, and to propagate the
zoning configuration throughout the fabric.
Saved
This is the zone configuration that was last saved. It resides in flash memory
and it is persistent.
Saving a Zone Configuration (refer to the picture)
When it is defined, it resides only in RAM. To transfer
it to flash memory, to be permanently stored and accessible across reboots, it must be saved. This can be accomplished by either:
• Saving it directly to flash (the recommended method)
• Enabling it first, then it is saved to flash.
But, until it has been saved to flash, it is not permanently stored and available across reboots.
How to merge two Brocade fabrics
How to merge two Brocade fabrics
Author Details
Author: NetworkAdminKB.com
Created: 2009-04-02
Modified: 2009-06-02
Article Content
Information:
Basic fabric merges aren’t very difficult from a technical stand point. However, many network administrators fail to do the proper research up front and therefore run into issues that can easily be avoided. To make sure the merge is successful administrators should focus on keeping things simple and avoid doing to much during the merge process. Then after the merge is successful go back and add any additional configuration needed to handle load and fault tolerance.
Below are the basic steps and research you need to do in order to perform a basic merge of two Brocade fabrics. A basic fabric merge consists of the following assumptions
* No long distance ISLs are involved.
* Only one ISL between each switch will be implemented (no Trunking).
* No advance configuration of the switches.
* All Switches are from the same vendor (Brocade in this case).
Research and Preliminary Steps
1) Verify root and admin level userids and password for all switches.
2) Verify support agreements are in place should you need help with an issue.
3) Check that the Brocade Fabric License is installed on all Switches
a. This is also called the Full Fabric License
b. Order and install license if not already installed.
4) Upgrade the Fabric OS (aka: Switch Firmware, or FOS) as needed on every switch to meet all the following requirements:
a. Compatibility with all Storage Arrays
i. Check with your vendor
b. Compatibility with all HBA drivers, BIOS, firmware, etc.
i. Check with your vendor
c. Compatibility with other Fabric OS’s
i. Check with your switch vendor (Brocade or your reseller)
ii. In general try to get the same Fabric OS installed on all switches. If not exactly the same they need to be within the same major version level and possibly the minor one as well.
1. Version 5.3.0c = major.minor.revision
5) Check Domain IDs of all Switches
a. In a Fabric no two switches can have the same Domain ID. Find and correct any issues now, or plan to correct the Domain ID issue during the merge.
6) Check Zone and Alias Names
a. Zone and Alias Names cannot be duplicated between the two fabrics. Find and correct any duplicate zone or alieas names. A simple solution to this issue is to prefix all names with a fabric label (fabA_, fabB_, etc.)
7) Check for duplicate IP addresses assigned to the switches.
a. Most director class FC switches have multiple IPs so check them all.
8) Check for incompatible Fabric Parameters on the switches to be merged.
a. Use the configshow command and compare values of all fabric.xxxx parameters
b. Verify that all RA_TOV and ED_TOV values are the same on every switch. Per the FC-SW2 standard, these values must be the same on each switch within the fabric.
c. This issue and other advance settings issues are very rare. Basically if you have implemented advanced settings on your switches you should know and understand those settings. If you are using the default settings of the switch you can generally assume the settings are compatible.
Planning Phase
1) Plan your Principal Switch for the fabric
a. You should not allow the fabric to determine the Principal Switch because all fabric changes (Zone Changes) should occur at the Principal Switch. This switch should be the most highly available switch in the fabric.
2) Plan your fabric type
a. The type of fabric being created (Full Mesh or Core-Edge) really doesn’t matter for the merge, but you need to know this to properly plan for your ISLs.
3) Plan your ISLs
a. Plan which ports will be ISLs
4) Plan any server or storage moves as needed.
a. Minimize these and/or perform them a few days after a successful merge.
5) Determine zone merge method
a. The easiest Zone Merge is to determine which Fabric (Zone Config) will be used as the foundation to the new Fabric, and disable Zoning on the switches in the other fabric.
i. This is advantageous if you have single switch fabrics.
ii. When you Disable Zoning all existing Zone configurations will be merged, but disabled.
iii. This choice of which Zone Config to keep should match with the Principal Switch choice made earlier.
b. The other (more difficult) method is to manually export all Zone Configuration information from each Fabric and import it into the other. Then you will need to name the Zone Config’s in both Fabrics to the same name and verify that all the zone configuration information matches.
6) Order Port Licenses and Fiber cables as needed to perform your merge.
Implementation Phase for Disable Zoning Merge Method
1) Shutdown all servers on the fabric that is to be merged.
2) Disable Zoning on the Principal Switch of the fabric that is to be merged.
a. This should be enough to disable zoning on the whole fabric, if not then Disable Zoning on every switch in the fabric that is to be merged.
3) Connect ONE ISL from one merged fabric switch to the target fabric.
a. Use the Brocade Web Interface on the target fabric switch to monitor to the merge.
b. If switches become segmented review the Switch Events for errors and attempt again.
4) Once the merge is successful you can continue with the configuration.
5) View the current Zone Configuration
a. You should see zones from the merge appear as available, but not active.
6) Update your Active Zone Configuration Set as needed to complete the Merge
a. Save and Activate the new Zone Configuration.
7) Add additional ISL links as needed to make a fault tolerant fabric.
8) Configure the Principal Switch for the new merged fabric.
9) Turn on the servers previously shutdown.
Implementation Phase for Cross Import/Export Merge Method
This type of merge goes beyond the basic fabric merge and attempts to join two fabrics while both are running. While this can be done, only experienced administrators that have performed this task in a lab as well as in the real world should attempt this type of merge. While the reward is no down time, the side effects of a poor merge happening could be disastrous for your business. This type of merge is left to the experts and is beyond the scope of this how to article.
single vs dual fabric
Dual Fabrics
For mission critical applications, Brocade strongly recommends that you install a dual fabric, which allows you to upgrade each fabric separately with no loss of service (provided that you have configured failover software).
For example, to upgrade the dual fabric shown in the picture, you first upgrade Fabric 1 by deactivating the link from the host to Fabric 1. The host continues to access the data through Fabric
2. After Fabric 1 is upgraded, reconnect the host to Fabric 1, disconnect the link from the host to Fabric 2, and upgrade Fabric 2.
High level Steps To Create a SAN Fabric
1. Determine the fabric topology.
2. Power on each switch, and go through the Power-On Self-Test (POST).
3. Configure each switch:
a. Configure each switch for network access.
b. Run diagnostic tests to verify hardware.
c. Upgrade the firmware and install software licenses.
d. Configure the fabric parameters and software features.
4. Reboot each switch and then verify the switch configuration.
5. Connect ISLs to form a large fabric.
6. Verify the fabric configuration.
7. Load the desired zoning configuration onto the fabric.
8. Connect devices to the fabric.
9. Power on the devices:
a. Power on or enable the storage devices.
b. Power on or enable the host devices.
10. Verify the SAN.
Checklist power down/up a Fabric
Checklist for Initial Bring Up
Determine the topology of your system. Determine which are the core
switches and which are the edge switches.
Power on each switch and verify the POST completes successfully.
Set the IP addresses on each switch.
Run diagnostic tests on each switch to verify hardware (optional).
Upgrade the firmware and install software licenses on each switch.
Configure the fabric parameters and software features.
Reboot and verify each switch.
Connect ISLs to form a large fabric.
Verify the fabric configuration.
Power on the storage devices.
Power on the host devices.
Verify the SAN.
Checklist for Recovering from Power Failure
Make sure all switches and devices are powered off.
Power on the core switches.
Power on the first edge switch.
Power on the remaining edge switches.
Verify the fabric configuration.
Power on the storage devices.
Power on the host devices.
Verify the SAN.
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Shutting Down & Powering up a Fabric
Shutting Down the Fabric
Perform the following steps to successfully shut down the fabric:
1. Shut down all host devices.
2. Shut down all storage devices.
3. Shut down all edge switches.
4. Shut down all core switches.
Bringing up steps:
1. Make sure all switches and devices are powered off.
2. Power on the fabric:
a. Power on the core switches.
b. Power on the first edge switch to merge the core switches and the edge switch as one fabric.
c. Power on the remaining edge switches.
3. Verify the fabric configuration.
4. Power on the devices:
a. Power on or connect the storage devices.
b. Power on or connect the host devices.
5. Verify the SAN.
identify principle from fabrichow command
Look for ">"; that's mr Principle
switch:admin> fabricShow
Switch ID Worldwide Name Enet IP Addr FC IP Addr Name
To specify by port number, you must specify switch domain ID and port number, for
example, 2,12 indicates switch domain ID 2, port number 12. When a member is specified by port number all devices connected to the port are included in the zone.
i.e
admin> aliCreate "A_ServerA_hba0", "1,3"
admin> aliCreate "A_ServerA_hba1”, "2,3"
Zoning Steps
Zoning Steps:
1. Create alias (this step is optional)
2. Define zone
3. Define zone configuration
4. Enable zone configuration
1. Create alias (this step is optional)
An alias is a name assigned to a device or group of devices. By creating an alias you can assign
a familiar name to a device, or you can group multiple devices into a single
name.
An alias must be a unique alpha-numeric string beginning with an alpha character. The
underscore character ( _ ) is allowed and alias names are case sensitive
Aliases can greatly simplify the administrative process; however, they are not required to