D_Port support
The Diagnostic (D_Port) feature is supported on 16-Gbps ports in the following configurations:
• An AG switch connected to an AG switch in cascaded configuration (supports only static D_Port).
• An AG switch connected to a Brocade fabric switch (supports only static D_Port).
• An AG switch connected to a Brocade HBA (supports static D_Port starting with Fabric OS 7.2.0;
dynamic D_Port starting with Fabric OS 7.3.0 and HBA v3.2.0).
The following types of D_Ports are supported:
•Static D_Port -- You can convert a Fibre Channel port into a D_Port on an AG switch, Brocade
HBA, fabric switch, or another AG switch (cascaded configuration) to test the link between the ports.
When you configure the ports on each end of the link as a D_Port, diagnostic tests automatically
initiate on the link when the D_Ports go online. Once in D_Port mode, the port does not participate
in fabric operations, log in to a remote device, or run data traffic. Comparison of Access Gateway
ports to standard switch ports on page 24 illustrates the supported D_Port configurations.
•Dynamic D_Port-- An AG switch supports dynamic D_Port mode starting with Fabric OS 7.3.0. If
the port on the connected Brocade HBA v3.2.0 is configured as a static D_Port, the AG port
automatically goes into D_Port mode. Once the AG port goes into dynamic D_Port mode, the switch
runs all the diagnostic tests automatically from the AG switch to connected HBA. Once the tests are
complete, the AG port will automatically revert back to an F_Port mode, if the HBA or device port
reverts back to be a normal port. However, dynamic D_Port mode is not supported in AG-to-AG and
AG-to-Switch connections; you need to configure and remove the D_Port statically in these cases.
To enable dynamic D_Port support on the AG switch, you can use the following switch-wide
configuration option available in the configure command:
Dynamic D-Port (on, off): [on] on
By default, the dynamic D_Port is on (enabled).
NOTE
N_Port-to-F_Port mappings must be removed from an AG F_Port before configuring it as a D_Port.
Refer to Saving port mappings on page 49.
Results from D_Port testing can be viewed using Fabric OS commands, such as portDPortTest --
show, during or after testing. The adapter, fabric switch, or AG switch will be the initiator and the other
will be the responder. You can view detailed results from the initiator.
The following tests automatically run on the link between configured D_Ports:
• Electrical loopback in SFP
• Optical loopback in SFP
• Link traffic test to test frame flow to ASIC or CPU
• Link latency and distance measurement
For details on configuring D_Ports, using D_Ports, and D_Port limitations and considerations, refer to
the Fabric OS Administrator's Guide. For details on D_Port-related commands, refer to the Fabric OS
Command Reference.

Limitations and considerations

Following are specific limitations and considerations for using D_Ports in AG switch configurations. For
a complete list of D_Port limitations and considerations, refer to the Fabric OS Administrator's Guide.

D_Port support

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