468 Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide
53-1001763-02
Inter-fabric link configuration
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Inter-fabric link configuration

Before configuring an IFL, be aware that you cannot configure both IFLs (EX_Ports, VEX_Ports) and
ISLs (E_Ports) from a backbone fabric to the same edge fabric.
Configuring an inter-fabric link involves disabling ports and cabling them to other fabrics,
configuring those ports for their intended use, and then enabling the ports.
To configure an 8-Gbps IFL, both the EX_Port and the connecting E_Port must be 8-Gbps ports.
ATTENTION
To ensure that fabrics remain isolated, disable the port prior to inserting the cable. If you are
configuring an EX_Port, disable the port prior to making the connection.

Configuring an IFL for both edge and backbone connections

1. On the FC router, disable the port that you are configuring as an EX_Port (the one connected to
the Fabric OS switch) by issuing the portDisable command.
switch:admin> portdisable 7/10
You can verify that port 7 has been disabled by issuing the portShow command for the port.
2. Configure each port that connects to an edge fabric as an EX_Port or VEX_Port. Note the
following:
portCfgVEXPort works only on VE_Ports.
portCfgEXPort (only on the FC ports on the FC router) commands work only on ports that
are capable of FC-FC routing.
Use the portCfgEXPort or portCfgVEXPort command to:
Enable or disable EX_Port or VEX_Port mode.
Set the fabric ID (avoid using fabric IDs 1 and 128, which are the default IDs for backbone
connections).
The following example configures the EX_Port (or VEX_Port) and assigns a Fabric ID of 30 to
port 7.
switch:admin> portcfgexport 7/10 -a 1 -f 30
switch:admin> portcfgexport 7/10
Port 7/10 info
Admin: enabled
State: NOT OK
Pid format: Not Applicable
Operate mode: Brocade Native
Edge Fabric ID: 30
Preferred Domain ID: 160
Front WWN: 50:06:06:9e:20:38:6e:1e
Fabric Parameters: Auto Negotiate
R_A_TOV: Not Applicable
E_D_TOV: Not Applicable
Authentication Type: None
DH Group: N/A
Hash Algorithm: N/A
Edge fabric's primary wwn: N/A
Edge fabric's version stamp: N/A