Fabric OS Administrator’s Guide 499
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McDATA Mi10K interoperability A
The connectivity limitations of a metaSAN containing Fabric OS and M-EOS fabrics are defined by
the scalability of each individual fabric. The latest scalability information can be found at the
Brocade Connect Web site at www.brocade.com. Refer to the M-EOS fabric documentation for
scalability considerations.

McDATA Mi10K interoperability

When an EX_Port is connected to an M-EOS edge fabric, the front domain ID must be within a range
the edge M-Series switch can understand. Valid values are:
•McDATA Native mode: 1 – 31 (IM2)
•McDATA Open mode: 97-127 (for IM3)
•McDATA Open mode: 1- 239 (specifically for the i10k in McDATA Open mode)
The default front domain ID assigned to the EX_Port remains at 160 when it is created. However,
when the EX_Port is connected to the Mi10K, a daemon sends a request domain ID (RDI)
command that must be within the valid range M-EOS understands.
When an RDI command is sent to an Mi10k switch with a valid domain ID defined by standards and
is not within the range an Mi10k switch understands, the RDI request is rejected. This behavior of
the Mi10k is different from other M-EOS switches.
If you set a front domain ID that is not within the valid range M-EOS understands, then in Fibre
Channel routing, a daemon internally requests a valid domain ID that M-EOS understands. Unless
you change the front domain ID, there is no impact.
The behavior with non-Mi10k switches displays the regular switch when configured.
After the port is properly configured and connected, running switchShow on the FC router displays
the M-EOS switch that is connected. From the M-EOS side, the EOSc show fabric topology
command displays the front domain in WWN format (for example, 10:00:00:05:1e:7e:a9:f6). If the
LSAN is configured and proxy devices are created, the proxy device appears in the Name Server of
the edge fabric, and the translate domain appears in the edge fabric. On M-EOSn the fc show fabric
1 command displays the front domain in WWN format, like in EOSc. The same is true for the
translate domain, but the vendor will display as Unknown.

Fabric configurations for interconnectivity

When connecting a Fabric OS fabric with an M-EOS fabric using an FC Router, you must configure
the switch on both fabrics as well as the router, as described in the following sections.
NOTE
Trunking is not supported on EX_Ports connected to the M-EOS fabric.

Connectivity modes

You can connect to M-EOS fabrics in both McDATA Open mode or McDATA Fabric mode. If the mode
is not configured correctly, the port is disabled because of incompatibility.