Chapter 3: PowerEdge MX Scalable Fabric Architecture
32
Dell EMC PowerEdge MX
Networking Architecture Guide
When connecting a pair of PowerEdge MX IOMs in SmartFabric mode to an upstream
switch pair, ensure the following:
•
Both upstream switches must be connected using technologies such as Dell EMC
VLT or Cisco Nexus vPC.
•
The upstream switch ports must be in a port channel using LACP.
•
A compatible Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is configured. For more information
see Appendix A
In OS10EE, unified port groups operate as either Ethernet or FC. By default, both unified
port groups, 15 and 16, are set to 1x 100GbE. To activate the two port groups as FC
interfaces, use the command mode fc.
The MX9116n FSE unified port groups support the following Ethernet breakout
configurations:
•
4x 10GbE
– Breakout a QSFP29 port into four 10GbE interfaces
•
1x 40GbE
– Set a QSFP28 port to 40GbE mode
•
4x 25GbE
– Breakout a QSFP port into four 25GbE interfaces
•
2x 50GbE
– Breakout a QSFP28 port into two 50GbE interfaces
•
1x 100GbE
– Reset the unified port back to the default, 100GbE mode
The MX9116n FSE unified port groups support the following FC breakout configurations:
•
4x 8Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into four 8Gb FC interfaces
•
2x 16Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into two 16Gb FC interfaces
•
4x 16Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into four 16Gb FC interfaces
•
1x 32Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into one 32Gb FC interface
•
2x 32Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into two 32Gb FC interfaces
•
4x 32Gb
– Breakout a unified port group into four 32Gb FC interfaces, rate limited
Note:
See Appendix A
for more information about rate limited 32Gb FC.
A virtual port is a logical OS10EE port that connects to a downstream server and has no
physical hardware location on the switch. Virtual ports are created when an MX9116n
FSE onboards a MX7116n FEM. The onboarding process consists of discovery and
configuration. An attached MX9116n FSE in Full Switch mode automatically discovers the
MX7116n FEM when the following conditions are met:
•
The MX7116n FEM is connected to the MX9116n FSE by attaching a Dell qualified
cable between the QSFP28-DD ports on both devices.
•
The interface for the QSFP28-DD port group connected to the MX9116n FSE is in
8x25GbE FEM mode.
•
At least one blade server is inserted into the MX7000 chassis containing the
MX7116n FEM.
To verify that a MX7116n FEM is communicating with the MX9116n FSE, enter the
show
discovered-expanders
command.
Unified port
groups
Virtual ports
