Back to: Brocade FC (Fibre Channel) Switches
When adding a switch to the fabric, several factors must be considered. The process differs depending on whether the switch being added is a new switch or an existing switch with its own configuration.
1) New Switch Adding to Fabric
A new switch has no configurations stored in either RAM or FP-ROM. When it joins the fabric, the following propagations occur:
- Defined Configuration Propagation:
- The defined configuration in the inactive portion of RAM in the old switch is propagated to the inactive portion of RAM in the new switch.
- Effective Configuration Propagation:
- The effective configuration in the active portion of RAM in the old switch is propagated to the active portion of RAM in the new switch.
- FP-ROM Update:
- The configurations are then propagated to the FP-ROM.
As a result, the new switch added to the fabric enforces the existing effective configuration.
2) Existing Switch with its Own Configuration
When joining an existing switch with its own configuration to the fabric, conflicts may arise, such as:
- Zone content conflicts
- Zone type conflicts
- Zone name conflicts
Steps to Resolve Conflicts and Join the Switch:
- Identify and Resolve Conflicts:
- Identify resolve zone-related conflicts.
- Disable the configuration of the new switch:
- Erase the configurations in RAM:
cfgdisable - Disable the E-port of the new switch:
- To prevent connectivity issues, disable the E-port using the following command:
portdisable <port number>
Configuration Propagation:
- Once the port is enabled, communication between the switches is established.
- Enable the E-port:
- Reopen communication between the switches:
portenable <port number> - The configuration of the new switch is propagated to the existing switch and saved in FP-ROM.
- The defined configuration is loaded into the inactive partition of RAM.
- Both the defined and effective configurations are propagated to their respective partitions of RAM on the new switch.
By following these steps, the new or existing switch can be successfully integrated into the fabric with minimal disruption.
The diagram below explains how the configuration will merge.
